The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has banned a second vessel in a week following the 90-day ban issued to the Panama-flagged bulk carrier Babuza Wisdom.
The Antigua Barbuda-flagged general cargo ship BBC Weser has also been slapped with a 90-day ban from Australian waters for being in an “unsafe and unseaworthy condition and an unacceptable risk to Australia’s precious marine and coastal environments”.
has also been slapped with a 90-day ban from Australian waters for being in an “unsafe and unseaworthy condition and an unacceptable risk to Australia’s precious marine and coastal environments”.The 2006-built ship operated by Germany’s Briese Heavylift was detained in May after inspectors found a significant number of ballast air vents onboard were defective.
AMSA said Briese Heavylift has had a history of poor performance, with one in five of its ships having been detained in Australia since May 2021 – a rate more than three times the average for ships visiting Australian waters.
“BBC Weser poses a significant risk to the safety of the seafarers onboard, and Australia’s precious marine and coastal environments,” said Michael Drake, AMSA executive director of operations, adding. “The defects on the BBC Weser are especially concerning, as they are detainable deficiencies that would have been obvious to anyone onboard, and that the operator could not have pleaded ignorance to.”
The vessel is the fourth to be barred by AMSA this year, including the 2006-built 1,732 teu containership MSC Kymea II.
