Container ship banned from Australia due to crew mistreating

[Hannes van Rijn]

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 was improper. The vessel was substandard with insufficient maintenance.

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

[Clydee]

Thank you Hannes.

Lloyd's List Australia has also published details :-

Boxship Vega Auriga (IMO 9347786), an MSC-third-party-operated vessel, has been banned from Australia for three months by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) for repeated breaches of seafarer welfare and ship maintenance.
  
Meanwhile new AMSA CEO Mick Kinley has this morning announced a stronger policy to deal with repeatedly-deficient vessels.

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.

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 Ship Safety Division general manager Allan Schwartz said vessels entering Australian ports must ensure they meet minimum international standards.