The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has prohibited the container ship Vega Auriga from entering or using any port in Australia due to repeated breaches relating to the welfare of its crew and vessel maintenance.
The container vessel has been detained in Australia three times. The AMSA were concerned about the crew welfare. The living and working conditions were inadequate, the payment of wages wasimproper. The vessel was substandard with insufficientmaintenance.
Some of the deficiencies found were related to the fire fighting equipment onboard, issue with the compass and chart, dirty food storage area and life rafts issues.
Allan Schwartz, general manager of AMSA’s Ship Safety Division, commented:
“Seafarer welfare is just as important as the proper maintenance of ship equipment, and an integral part of safe operations. A failure in either system could lead to serious accidents. Seafarers live a tough life under even the best of circumstances, spending many months at sea away from family and friends.”
Mediterranean Shipping Company has come under fire from unions after one of the container ships it operates was banned from calling at Australian ports for three months for poor vessel maintenance and safety.
The Liberian-flagged Vega Auriga has been detained for poor seafarer welfare and ship care on multiple occasions by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and is also understood to have previously fallen foul of Singaporean maritime authorities.
According to Lloyd’s List Australia, Vega Auriga is owned, commercially operated, and technically managed by Vega Reederei, a German shipowner, shipbroker, charterer and sale/purchase broker. The third-party operator is the Mediterranean Shipping Company, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence.
International Transport Workers’ Federation Australia coordinator Dean Summers said the container-shipping giant needs to vet its chartered fleet more carefully if it is serious about protecting its reputation.
“The ITF had repeatedly warned MSC of these and other breaches but the European-based fleet operator had refused to accept their responsibilities,” he added.
MSC was contacted by Lloyd’s Loading List.com but did not respond.
Lloyd’s List Australia reports that the Liberia-flagged Vega Auriga is a 2006-built, fully cellular boxship of 966 teu and according to AIS-vessel sightings, the vessel appears to run between New Caledonia, Australia and New Zealand.
It was last detained in Brisbane on August 25 and sailed that day en-route for Auckland. It has been detained at least eight times, once in Singapore and seven times in Australia.
Lloyd’s List Australia said Vega Auriga also has a lengthy and repeated list of deficiencies going back to November 2011 including, but not limited to, wages; certifications; fire doors/openings in fire-resisting divisions; fire detection and alarm system; ready availability of fire-fighting equipment; fire alarms; machinery issues; oil-accumulation in the engine room; charts; magnetic compass issues; cold room cleanliness, cold room temperature; sanitary facilities; stowage and provision of life-rafts; operational readiness of life-saving appliances; ropes and wires; adequate lockers; galley issues; provisions quantity; maintenance of the ship and equipment.
AMSA’s new CEO Mick Kinley unveiled a new policy to Lloyd’s List Australia describing AMSA’s approach to dealing with vessels that are repeatedly in breach of Port State Control.
“The Navigation Act 2012 has given us good directions powers. When Port State Control fails, then we can say ‘you’re not welcome in Australian ports’. It’s about getting the message out that poor standards will not be tolerated,” Kinley asserted.
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