Maritime Authority Launches New Campaign to Help Prevent Shipping Disasters and Cargo Losses

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Container ships visiting the Port of Newcastle may now face extra scrutiny as part of a new nationwide campaign initiated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) to enforce proper cargo securing arrangements and prevent shipping disasters.

While the campaign is ongoing from early August to the end of October, cargo ships should expect extended Port State Control inspections or stand-alone inspections if they dock in Australian ports.

The inspection campaign is being launched in response to recent investigations which revealed issues such as unsafe stacking practices and the poor maintenance of securing equipment were major factors in incidents involving the loss of containers from the YM Efficiency off Newcastle in 2018 and the APL England off Wollongong in May.

AMSA Acting National Operations Manager, Greg Witherall says the recent incidents were "simply unacceptable".

"They have the impact to cause significant environmental damage to Australia's iconic marine and coastal environment," Mr Witherall said. "These events, of containers going over the side, certainly affects the livelihoods and safety of commercial fishers and more broadly communities across Australia."

A $17 million recovery effort earlier this year salvaged 63 of the 81 containers lost overboard from the YM Efficiency, which had left debris such as nappies, surgical masks, and other sanitary products to wash up on local shores.

Taiwanese operator Yang Ming are now facing legal proceedings from AMSA in the Federal Court to recover the costs of the container removal effort.

Mr Witherall said further incidents would not be tolerated and all vessels visiting Australia must ensure they comply with the international standards set out by the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention.

"Where a vessel is deemed not compliant, and what we call clear grounds exist, then the AMSA inspector may proceed to a full detailed inspection," Mr Witherall said. "That can result in compliance action being taken until the vessel and the operators bring their vessel back into compliance."

"There's certainly an opportunity here for industry to lift its standards and AMSA will hold companies to account if their ships lose containers in Australian waters."

Image credit: https://www.amsa.gov.au/

Talks Dissolve, but Hope Still for Container Terminal

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

The Port of Newcastle says they have received a couple of unsolicited offers from companies interested in building a container terminal here.

It comes as negotiations with terminal operator DP World come to a close, with the parties unable to agree on a proposal which they both felt was viable and competitive.

Port of Newcastle Chairman Roy Green is remaining optimistic, saying it represents an opportunity to forge new partnerships.

"I'm absolutely confident," he said, "the impression may have been given by the breakdown of talks that the discussions were over for a container terminal - that is far from being the case...

"We believe there is an economic case to be made for the terminal and the proponent would not have entered into that discussion unless there was one.

"We've now concluded that discussion," Professor Green continued, "and we'll move on because we do have one or more unsolicited proposals, including one from a very major global operator."

There's speculation DP World could now link up with Port Botany bosses to work on a rival terminal at Wollongong.

However Port of Newcastle Chairman Roy Green says that's not the issue at hand.

"There's every possibility they will want to do that," he said, "we have no objection to that, they're entitled to do so as a private company like us.

"All we require is that, as a private company, we are free from competition restrictions and are able to operate on a level playing field."

Professor Green is referring to an ACCC investigation currently underway into a 2013 NSW Government deal preventing Newcastle from building a container terminal to the detriment of Port Botany.

The so-called secret deal has been slammed by state Labor as a "port rort" which reportedly has seen $75,000 of public money spent on bankers, lawyers accountants and PR experts to make it happen.

Maritime and Freight Minister Melinda Pavey told Newcastle MP and the parliament in June that 85% of containers which come into NSW are distributed within a 40km radius of Port Botany, and it's the industry that decides where those are distributed.

It's expected the ACCC will release their findings by the end of this year.

Newcastle MP Fears 'Port Rort' May Be Terminal

BY SAM ISAAC AND LAUREN FREEMANTLE

NSW Minister for Maritime and Freight, Melinda Pavey has addressed the 2013 restrictions which prevent the Port of Newcastle from building their own container terminal for 98 years; ruling out a backflip anytime soon.

Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp used Question Time to grill Ms Pavey on the issue, after she has maintained silence thus far.

The Minister told parliament, "85% of containers that come into NSW... are distributed within a 40km radius of Port Botany. It is industry that decides, because of the population, where those containers are distributed."

Tim Crakanthorp is questioning why we have to enforce an anti-competitive ban on Newcastle's Port if business is booming at the Port of Botany.

"It's very hypocritical for them to say 'well, there's not enough demand for containers in Newcastle, but we're still going to impose a cap, just in case there is'," the MP said.

"It's an appalling restriction, it's anti-competitive."

The refusal to remove the restrictions comes after plans for Port Waratah's T4 Terminal were cancelled for financial reasons.

Labor believe the cancellation of the T4 project mean Newcastle's ability to out-compete Sydney is being further impeded, while the container terminal ban remains in place.

Port of Newcastle.