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/

YM Efficiency to Foot the Cost of Shipping Container Cleanup

BY GEMMA FERGUSON

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."

Efforts Ramp Up To Remove Sunken Containers Off Port Stephens

BY IAN CROUCH

More than a year after 83 shipping containers fell into the sea from the YM Efficiency off the coast of Port Stephens, expressions of interest are being sought to remove the remaining 79 containers from the ocean floor.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority expects to award a tender for the massive task which could cost as much as $50 million.

It comes after the ship's owner, Yang Ming and its insurers failed to act to clean up the mess.

The Authority says leaving the containers in the sea poses an unacceptable risk to the community, the environment and local fishers. 

The YM Efficiency lost 83 shipping containers overboard in June 2018 Picture: gcaptain.com

                                                                       

Expensive Cars Among Lost Containers From YM Efficiency Off Newcastle

BY IAN CROUCH

It's been revealed two American pick-up trucks valued at $300,000 are among the cargo on board a container ship which ran into heavy seas off Newcastle last June.

83 containers were lost from the YM Efficiency cargo ship, leaving an array of plastics and debris littering the coast from Merewether to Coffs Harbour.

Fairfax has obtained a manifest of what was inside the containers under Freedom Of Information laws.

The Chevrolet Silverado pick-up trucks are still sitting on the ocean floor along with an array of goods including mountain bikes, electric scissor lifts, commercial laundry machines and industrial vacuum cleaners.

Two Chevrolet Silverados Were Lost Off The YM Efficiency