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AMSA 2014 Annual Report on PSC
2014 marked the introduction of a significant step-change in Australia’s response to ships and operators who perform poorly on a consistent basis. In November and December 2014 AMSA used the directions power provided in section 246 of the Navigation Act 2012 to ban 2 ships from entering or using Australian ports for a period of 3 months.
During the calendar year 2014, 26,936 ship arrivals by 5674 foreign-flagged ships of which 3742 vessel inspected and resulted in 269 ship detentions. Bulk carriers accounted for 49 per cent of ship arrivals and 57 per cent of PSC inspections. PSC inspections were carried out in 54 Australian ports.
There was a total of 269 vessels detained in 2014.The average detention rate for all vessels was 7.2%. During 2014, AMSA surveyors recorded a total of 10,892 deficiencies giving a deficiency rate of 2.9 per inspection compared to 2.4 per inspection in 2013.
By drawing comparisons based on 10 years of Australian PSC data the outcome may be considered, at first view, to be disappointing with the apparent stabilisation of annual PSC deficiency and detention rates over the last 5 years. While there have been modest improvements experienced across a number of areas, the overall picture indicates that the international community’s PSC/ FSC efforts are not delivering lasting results. The principal causes of detention remain consistently related to International Safety Management (ISM), fire safety, lifesaving appliances and pollution prevention. It seems difficult to reconcile how well established requirements for fire safety, lifesaving appliances and pollution prevention continue to be such significant issues.
Source: AMSA
ADVISORY FOR SINGAPORE-FLAGGED SHIPS CALLING PORTS IN YEMEN
MPA Singapore issued shipping circular 09/2015 for Singapore flag vessels calling Yemen, The security situation in Yemen has deteriorated further with increasingly widespread armed conflicts. The ground conditions remain fluid and highly uncertain as the armed conflicts persist. In consideration of the safety and security of Singapore-flagged ships and the crew serving onboard these ships, MPA advices owners and operators to avoid having their vessels call at ports in Yemen. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore has also in their travel advisory dated 7 April 2015 strongly advised Singaporeans to avoid all travel to Yemen.
The MPA further understands that a naval blockade on Yemeni ports has been enforced and that insurers have since advised owners and operators with either (i) ships at Yemen, or (ii) ships proceeding to Yemen to urgently review their deployment in light of this development. MPA strongly advise owners and operators of Singapore-flagged ships to carry out the review in consultation with your contractual counterparties as well as Hull, War and P&I insurers and other relevant parties. At all times, safety and security of the crew and the ship must take precedence.
Click here to read circular.
Source: MPA
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