The CEO of the Maritime Safety Authority says the Yang Ming ship YM Eternity will not be allowed to leave Port Botany until the company pays an outstanding debt for the shipping container cleanup off the Hunter's Coast.
In June 2018, 81 containers fell overboard into waters off the Newcastle coast.
Search efforts to locate the sunken containers will include the use of remote underwater vehicles - it's estimated that the final cleanup cost could rise to $20 million.
A final report has been released by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) determined the cleanup debt by paid by the Yang Ming company as a result of their poor diligence.
The Federal Court Admiralty Marshall arrested the YM Eternity yesterday morning, Wednesday 12 February, and will not be releasing the shit until an agreement is reached.
ATSB Chief Commissioner, Greg Hood, says the report found a number of factors led to the loss.
"Our investigation found that the weights and distribution of the containers in the affected bays was such that the calculated forces exceeded allowable force limits," he says.
"We also identified that the stowage arrangement was not checked for compliance during the cargo planning process when they were a shore."
Bad weather also played a part in the accident, with strong gale force winds and rough seas impacting the Newcastle harbour.
Mr Hood says these conditions would not have had such an impact if properly planning had taken place.
"There's weather forecasting, routing, and good navigational practices in adverse weather - they all play a part in minimising the risk of injuries and damage," he says.
"Safe and effective container stowage and planning is a primary control measure, and then of course making sure you check the forecast."
