The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has issued a ‘refusal of access’ direction to the Netherlands-flagged general cargo ship Marsgracht, banning the vessel from entering Australian ports for 180 days.
AMSA said in a statement on Thursday that the Marsgracht was detained on 6 February at Port Alma for improper stowage of dangerous goods contrary to the International Maritime Organization’s International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code.
Despite this, during a port State control (PSC) inspection at the same port on 14 November 2024 the Marsgracht was again detained for improper stowage of dangerous goods.
“This recurrence highlights systemic failures in the ship’s safety management system and a serious lack of effective remedial action,” AMSA said.
The detention is the fourth since July 2022 for a Spliethoff's Bevrachtingskantoor B.V. operated ship failing to comply with the IMDG Code’s requirements for stowage of dangerous goods.
“These repeated failures demonstrate an inability to ensure safe operational practices across the fleet. The detention rate of the Spliethoff's Bevrachtingskantoor B.V. significantly exceeds the global average (12.6% over the past 2 years), with multiple ships detained for International Safety Management Code failures and other safety-critical deficiencies,” the authority said.
AMSA said this reflects a broader pattern of non-compliance and poor performance, which undermines the safety of seafarers and the Australian marine environment.
“Spliethoff is considered a poor performing operator, having been placed back on the list on 8 February 2024,” AMSA said.
AMSA Executive Director Operations Michael Drake said the authority had escalated its enforcement action to send a clear message to the operator that risk to safety and the marine environment would not be tolerated in Australia.
“Noting the seriousness and nature of these breaches, and the apparent lack of effective processes to rectify failings, it is appropriate that the Marsgracht not enter or use an Australian port for a period of 180 days,” Drake said.
“AMSA takes its role as a maritime safety regulator very seriously and will not hesitate to take swift and appropriate action against unsafe ships, their owners and operators," he said.
“International minimum standards exist to protect the lives of seafarers, and our precious marine and coastal environments.
"When it comes to loading dangerous cargo, there is no scope for non-compliance. There is no excuse for disregarding these standards,” he added.
