In the opening moments of 2024, the Australia Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has taken a decisive step by imposing its first-ever ban on a ship, showcasing its steadfast resolve to uphold safety standards in Australian waters. As the primary authority overseeing maritime safety and environmental protection, AMSA underscores its firm commitment to swiftly address and rectify safety concerns on vessels it deems hazardous. The focus of this enforcement effort is the disabled Liberian-registered bulk carrier, KMAX Leader, which has been in a state of incapacitation for more than four months.
AMSA, responsible for safeguarding maritime activities and preserving the environment, asserts its dedication to ensuring that vessels operating in Australian waters comply with stringent safety regulations. The case of KMAX Leader exemplifies AMSA’s proactive stance in dealing with situations that pose potential risks to safety and environmental well-being. The disabled vessel, a bulk carrier with a deadweight tonnage of 91,800, arrived in Gladstone in late October, triggering a sequence of events that led to its ban. Managed from the Philippines and built in 2010, KMAX Leader encountered “unidentified engine room vibrations” upon arrival.
Despite issuing multiple notices to KMAX Leader, requiring the vessel’s classification society to conduct a damage survey and submit a repair plan, as well as demanding information on towage arrangements, AMSA faced a lack of cooperation from the ship’s owners. Michael Drake, AMSA’s Executive Director Operations, expressed disappointment at the absence of transparent and meaningful engagement from the owners, emphasizing the authority’s expectation for prompt cooperation in such situations.The KMAX Leader, a bulk carrier with a deadweight tonnage of 91,800, arrived in Gladstone in late October. Managed out of the Philippines and constructed in 2010, the vessel encountered “unidentified engine room vibrations” upon arrival.
To address the escalating concerns, AMSA issued a “refusal of access Direction” to the ship and its owners, effective from February 15. This decision stemmed from the serious safety violations and breaches of Australian legislation observed by the ship’s master and owner while in Gladstone Harbour. Over the course of the vessel’s immobilization, AMSA issued multiple notices to KMAX Leader, compelling its classification society to conduct a damage survey and submit a report on repair work. Additionally, the ship was required to provide information on towage arrangements and an updated repair plan. Despite these directives, the ship’s owners failed to provide the necessary information, leading to growing frustration on the part of AMSA.
Michael Drake, AMSA’s Executive Director Operations, expressed disappointment at the lack of forthcoming information from the owners of KMAX Leader. He emphasized AMSA’s expectation for ship operators and masters to engage promptly, transparently, and meaningfully in such situations. During the vessel’s prolonged stay in Gladstone, two cyclones impacted the Queensland coast. Recognizing the heightened safety risks, Smit Lamnalco Australia engaged six tugs on February 4 for a dead ship tow. These tugs repositioned the KMAX Leader into the anchorage, and subsequently, the vessel left under tow. Following these events, AMSA implemented a 12-month ban on the ship, preventing it from entering Australian ports.
Michael Drake underscored that adherence to international standards is not optional. AMSA’s decision to issue a ban against KMAX Leader aligns with its commitment to upholding safety regulations and ensuring that vessels operating in Australian waters meet stringent standards. The ban on KMAX Leader marks AMSA’s first such action in 2024, building on a trend from the preceding year. In 2023, AMSA issued a total of nine bans against ships, primarily for maintenance issues and wage violations. This represented a notable increase compared to two bans in 2022 and four in 2021.
