The Indonesian-flagged ship has been denied access to Australian ports after failing all compliance requirements
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has issued a notice that general cargo ship Noah Satu cannot enter or use any Australian port after it failed to comply with all the mandatory reporting requirements for vessels moving across the Great Barrier Reef zone.
The current direction was issued on Thursday and will remain in effect for the next 12 months.
The 86 metre ship is owned by PT Anugerah Samudra Indomakur and was on charter to Orica, Singapore.
The Indonesian flag ship failed to comply with the Safety of Life at Sea Convention, the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships and the Maritime Labour Convention.
Having been banned from Australian ports for three months in September 2015, the beleaguered ship returned to Australian waters on January 26 before being subjected to state control port inspection in Queensland’s Port Alma.
The ship was again detained, due to failings in the vessel’s safety management system related to safe navigational practice, communications, pollution prevention arrangements, firefighting systems and hours of work and rest for the seafarers.
AMSA says it has a responsibility to ensure ships visiting Australian ports comply with the standards established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).
“Unsafe vessels put the lives of seafarers at risk and pose a threat to Australia’s marine environment,” AMSA CEO Mick Kinley says.
“Operators and charterers of ships that repeatedly fail to meet Australian standards need to accept that these ships are not welcome in Australian waters,” Kinley says.
The 86 metre vessel has been detained by AMSA five times since August 2013 on grounds of non-compliance with the Maritime Labour Convention and deficiencies related to equipment, general operations, pollution prevention requirements and safety management system including, navigation and fire safety regulations.