AMSA Bars Third Repeat Offender

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has issued a direction to Indonesian flagged multipurpose ship MV Meratus Sangatta (IMO 9116797) not to enter or use any port in Australia for three months.

The 1996-built, 3447 dwt general cargo ship has been detained three times since November 2012 and twice since November 2014. As a result it will not be allowed to re-enter Australian ports until April 6, 2015.

MV Meratus Sangatta was detained in Port Alma, Queensland on January 2 despite AMSA urging the ship’s operator, PT. Meratus Line, to improve its performance following the banning of another of its vessels, Territory Trader, in Cairns in November last year.

AMSA Chief Executive Officer Mick Kinley said a complaint was received in accordance with the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) ahead of an inspection of the ship last week.

“The recent detention found numerous failings in compliance with the MLC, which place the welfare of seafarers at risk,” Kinley said. “The more serious of these deficiencies included not having enough food and potable water for the next voyage, defective and insufficient refrigerated storage to safely store fresh food, defective laundry, sanitary and cooking facilities, as well as expired Seafarer Employment Agreements (SEA).“

Kinley said ships operated by PT. Meratus Line would now be subject to inspections at every port call.

The vessel was required to rectify deficiencies identified during the inspection before it was released from detention from Port Alma.

The vessel is the third to be banned from Australian ports under the revised Navigation Act which came into effect in July 2013.