Australia and UAE recently banned five ships from their waters

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and UAE Federal Maritime Administration recently banned five ships from Australia and UAE waters.

AMSA: A long list of defects

AMSA on 3 October 2023 informed that has banned the Marshall Island-flagged container ship Big Lilly from Australian waters for 90 days, for serious safety and maintenance issues.

Prior to this banning, the ship was detained in Melbourne, after an AMSA port State control (PSC) inspection identified serious defects with the watertight integrity of the ship’s cargo hatches, main engine, and safety equipment.

AMSA Inspectors identified a long list of defects and while the seafarers onboard had taken steps to maintain the ship, they appeared to have insufficient support from the ship’s management to ensure it met minimum international standards.

These defects have resulted in an elevated risk to the health and safety of the seafarers on board, and the Australian coastal environment.  

This is the second time the Big Lilly has been detained this year, following the identification of 23 serious deficiencies in May, seven of which warranted detention.

These deficiencies were not all adequately rectified, despite an agreed rectification action plan from the operator.

The ship's operator, V Ships Greece, has a poor record recently, with a detention rate of 16% compared to 6% for all foreign vessels. They were identified as a poor-performing operator after the first detention of the Big Lilly in June 2023.

The identification as a poor performer puts the company on notice to take positive steps to bring their ships into compliance.

More information about the Marine Notice: https://www.amsa.gov.au/about/regulations-and-standards/102022-planned-maintenance-ships

For a full list of ships AMSA has banned, visit: 
Refusal of access list and letters of warning list (amsa.gov.au)

Images of maintenance defects found during the PSC inspections can be found here: https://spaces.hightail.com/space/CRcwFCHtx1

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UAE: Four ships

The UAE Federal Maritime Administration (FMA) represented by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure on 19, 20, and 22 September 2023 issued three circulars informing about banning four ships from UAE ports and waters.

BARAKAALE

The UAE Federal Maritime Administration has made the decision to prohibit the vessel BARAKAALE from entering UAE ports and waters, including its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), due to its involvement in the following violations:

1. Anchoring within UAE waters without obtaining the necessary approvals from the relevant authorities.
2. Deactivating the Automatic Identification System (AIS) without providing a valid explanation to the competent authorities.

Details of the ship:

• Name: BARAKAALE
• Flag: Panama
• IMO Number: 9166948
• Ship Type: Oil Tanker
• Date and Place of Construction: Japan - 1997
• Ship Owner: Red Sea Petroleum & Shipping Inc.
• Ship Manager: Red Sea Petroleum FZC

FRANKLIN 1

The UAE Federal Maritime Administration prohibited the vessel FRANKLIN 1 from accessing UAE ports and waters, including the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), due to:

1. Engaging in AIS Spoofing, which involves manipulating Automatic Identification Systems broadcast signals.
2. Anchoring in UAE waters without obtaining the necessary approvals from the relevant authorities.

Details of the vessel:

• Vessel Name: FRANKLIN 1
• Flag: St Kitts & Nevis
• IMO Number: 8358128
• Vessel Type: Oil Tanker
• Date of Construction and Place: China - 2004
• Owner: Apex Shipping Inc. (Marshall Islands)
• Manager: Al Thahab Marine Services L.L.C.

LUCKY STAR and LUCKY MOON

UAE also prohibited entry to UAE ports and waters, including the EEZ, for the vessels known as LUCKY STAR (formerly Mazaya 5) and LUCKY MOON (formerly SSR 1). This action has been necessitated by their repeated violations, which include:

1. Engaging in illicit STS petroleum product operations within UAE waters.
2. Deactivating the Automatic Identification System (AIS) without appropriate justification to the relevant authorities.
3. Anchoring within UAE waters without obtaining the requisite approvals from the competent authorities.

Vessel Details:

1. Vessel Name: Lucky Star (formerly Mazaya 5)
   Flag: Cameroon (previously Tanzania)
   IMO Number: 7945912
   Ship Type: Supply vessel
   Ship Owner: SFI Marine Services LLC – Dubai
2. Vessel Name: LUCKY MOON (formerly SSR 1)
   Flag: Panama (previously Comoros)
   IMO Number: 6605711
   Ship Type: Supply Ship
   Ship Owner: SSR Fuel Supply Services Corporation

The UAE Maritime Administration also issued a warning to all maritime companies and agents, advising against engaging with the aforementioned vessels in UAE waters and ports to avoid potential legal repercussions.