180 days port ban, Dutch shipowner in violation of dangerous goods storage regulations
A general cargo vessel owned by Dutch shipowner Spliethoff has been banned from port for 180 days by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) for serious breaches of dangerous goods storage regulations.
On 14 November, Spliethoff's general cargo ship Marsgracht (12,300 DWT built in 2007) was again detained due to improper loading of dangerous goods, according to a statement from AMSA. This is another serious violation for the ship after it was held up for the first time for such problems in Queensland's Port Alma in February.
According to AMSA, Spliethoff ships have been detained four times since July 2022 for improper loading of dangerous goods. More worryingly, the detention rate of the company's vessels over the past two years has reached 12.6%, far exceeding the global average, with many of the vessels being detained due to violations of international safety management codes and other critical safety deficiencies.
Spliethoff's poor performance has alarmed Australian regulators. In March, the company's 12,500 DWT Flevogracht vessel was banned from Australian ports for 90 days by AMSA due to a failed lifeboat engine.
AMSA Executive Director Michael Drake bluntly stated that the Marsgracht's violations and the owner's apparently ineffective measures to correct them had reached an intolerable level and that "any non-compliance is unacceptable and has no excuse when it comes to the loading of dangerous goods."
In a statement, Spliethoff said: "The company takes AMSA's information very seriously and has taken immediate steps to correct this matter, and an internal investigation is ongoing." When the investigation is complete, we will share the findings with AMSA and other relevant parties to ensure that the necessary steps are taken to ensure that any vessel that enters Australian waters and is managed by the company meets strict conditions."
For other shipowners, Spliethoff's case should be seen as a wake-up call. As the industry enters a new era of parallel technological innovation and environmental pressure, compliance is not only a regulatory requirement, but also an important cornerstone for enterprises to gain a foothold in market competition. Companies that ignore safety and compliance will inevitably be eliminated by markets and regulations.
On 14 November, Spliethoff's general cargo ship Marsgracht (12,300 DWT built in 2007) was again detained due to improper loading of dangerous goods, according to a statement from AMSA. This is another serious violation for the ship after it was held up for the first time for such problems in Queensland's Port Alma in February.
According to AMSA, Spliethoff ships have been detained four times since July 2022 for improper loading of dangerous goods. More worryingly, the detention rate of the company's vessels over the past two years has reached 12.6%, far exceeding the global average, with many of the vessels being detained due to violations of international safety management codes and other critical safety deficiencies.
Spliethoff's poor performance has alarmed Australian regulators. In March, the company's 12,500 DWT Flevogracht vessel was banned from Australian ports for 90 days by AMSA due to a failed lifeboat engine.
AMSA Executive Director Michael Drake bluntly stated that the Marsgracht's violations and the owner's apparently ineffective measures to correct them had reached an intolerable level and that "any non-compliance is unacceptable and has no excuse when it comes to the loading of dangerous goods."
In a statement, Spliethoff said: "The company takes AMSA's information very seriously and has taken immediate steps to correct this matter, and an internal investigation is ongoing." When the investigation is complete, we will share the findings with AMSA and other relevant parties to ensure that the necessary steps are taken to ensure that any vessel that enters Australian waters and is managed by the company meets strict conditions."
For other shipowners, Spliethoff's case should be seen as a wake-up call. As the industry enters a new era of parallel technological innovation and environmental pressure, compliance is not only a regulatory requirement, but also an important cornerstone for enterprises to gain a foothold in market competition. Companies that ignore safety and compliance will inevitably be eliminated by markets and regulations.
