Maritime Safety News Archives - Page 42 of 260 - SHIP IP LTD

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has banned the Liberian-flagged oil tanker AG Neptune from Australian ports for six months for breaches of the Maritime Labor Convention (MLC).

According to the Equasis data base, the 2013-built, 105,405 dwt ship is managed by Singapore-headquartered AG Shipping & Energy Pte Ltd.

AMSA inspected the ship in the Port of Gladstone, in central Queensland, on June 17, 2022 after receiving a complaint regarding the underpayment of seafarers and welfare issues. During the inspection, says AMSA, it found evidence that the employment agreement with 21 seafarers on board the ship had not been met and the crew members were collectively owed approximately AUD $123,000 (about US$85,600).

AMSA found evidence the food and drinking water were not of appropriate quality, quantity and nutritional value for seafarers. It’s also understood a seafarer was not provided with adequate medical care after being injured onboard.

As a result, AMSA detained the ship for multiple breaches of the Maritime Labor Convention (MLC) and the operator has been directed to pay the outstanding wages and address the deficiencies.

AMSA’s Executive Director of Operations Michael Drake said the seafarers were repeatedly not paid at regular intervals and two crew members had expired Seafarer Employment Agreements.

“Australia has zero tolerance for the underpayment of crew. This type of behavior is unethical and in contravention to the MLC. The international conventions that protect seafarers’ rights are very clear,” Drake said. “Ships visiting Australian ports are on notice that if we find deliberate underpaying of crew they can expect penalties. AMSA takes the MLC seriously and actively ensures seafarers’ health and well-being is upheld on all ships in Australia.”

Source:https://www.marinelog.com/legal-safety/compliance/tanker-banned-from-australia-for-multiple-mlc-breaches/

Austal Limited (ASX:ASB) reports that its Austal USA subsidiary has been awarded a $156,171,650 fixed-price incentive contract option from the United States Navy for the construction of two Navajo-class Towing, Salvage, and Rescue Ships (T-ATS 13 and 14).

With the award, the Mobile. Ala., company is now under contract for four T-ATS, having received awards for T-ATS 11 and 12 in October 2021. It started construction on the first of these on July 11.

“It’s a great sign of confidence by the Navy, in the Austal USA team’s ability to deliver both steel and aluminum ships simultaneously, that they have awarded a contract for another two vessels,” said Austal Limited CEO Paddy Gregg. “Congratulations to the Austal USA team on yet another multiple steel vessel contract, which will go even further to demonstrate the company’s diverse capabilities, in aluminum and steel.”

T-ATS is an ocean-going tug, salvage, and rescue ship designed to support the United States Navy’s fleet operations, with a multi-mission common hull platform capable of towing heavy ships. The ships are capable of supporting a variety of missions, including oil spill response, humanitarian assistance, search and rescue and surveillance.

Austal USA will utilize its proven ship manufacturing processes and innovative methods that incorporate lean manufacturing principles, modular construction, and moving assembly lines, all housed under the shipyard’s state-of-the-art enclosed steel production facility. This unique production capability positions Austal USA to meet the ongoing, growing demands of both the Navy and Coast Guard.

Construction on T-ATS 13 and 14 will commence in the second half of 2023 and first half of 2024; with delivery planned for the second half of 2025 and first half of 2026, respectively.

Source: https://www.marinelog.com/shipbuilding/shipyards/shipyard-news/austal-usa-gets-156-million-award-to-build-two-more-t-ats/

Guilford, Conn., headquartered American Cruise Lines is again adding to its offerings. Beginning in 2023, the company, the largest small-ship cruise line in the U.S., will offer a brand new 8-day San Francisco Bay cruise which explores the City on the Bay, Napa Valley, and the San Joaquin Valley.

Operating round trip from San Francisco, American’s new small ships will transport guests from San Francisco into the heart of wine country along the Napa River. The new itinerary stops in San Francisco, Napa, Vallejo, Stockton, and Sacramento, and cruises San Francisco Bay, San Pablo Bay, the Napa River, and the San Joaquin River.

“American continues to expand the possibilities for exceptional domestic small-ship cruises across the country. Exploring this beautiful region of Northern California by riverboat will provide a new opportunity for our guests to discover the Bay area and the Napa Valley in an exceptional way…many have driven there, but not many can say they have actually cruised through wine country,” said Charles B. Robertson, president and CEO of American Cruise Lines.

The new San Francisco Bay itinerary highlights the region’s historical, cultural, and geographical influences and will include a scenic sail of San Francisco Bay, passing by the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and Treasure Island. Local San Francisco experiences include visits to Fisherman’s Wharf, Ghirardelli Square and Alcatraz. Special experiences include a Napa Valley Winery experience, and a NASCAR-style driving experience at the Stockton 99 Speedway. The cruise also offers a guided tour of Old Sacramento’s underground city and port, and a visit to the California Railroad Museum.

On board throughout the cruise, guests will enjoy daily Sunrise Yoga and unique Wine Country experiences. Special wine presentations will offer guests opportunities to learn, sip, and savor regional varietals. American’s culinary team will also give onboard cooking demonstrations on local Northern Californian cuisine and each guest will receive a local cookbook to take home.

The 2023 San Francisco Bay cruise is a first for the company in California and marks another step in the continued growth of the U.S. domestic small-ship cruise market.. In just the past few years, American’s portfolio of domestic river cruise itineraries and fleet of small ships has continued to expand.

In 2022, the company is operating six small ships in the Pacific Northwest with multiple all-domestic itineraries available on the Columbia and Snake Rivers, in Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands, and Alaska. Overall, American operates 15 small ships in 34 states.

2023 departure dates for American Cruise Lines’ new 8-day San Francisco Bay cruises are: 2/17, 2/24, 3/3, & 3/10 aboard American Jazz, one of the company’s fleet of modern riverboats built at Chesapeake Shipbuilding.

Source: https://www.marinelog.com/inland-coastal/inland/american-adds-california-to-its-small-ship-cruise-itineraries/

The UK-based operator of the tall ship Golden Horizon, Tradewind Voyages, canceled all sailings on its lone ship through October 2022 as it pursues a restructuring, the cruise line revealed.

Tradewind said it was realigning its business & financing structure due to EU-European Union sanctions against Russian entities that had impacted its lender in Germany.

The ship operator and its owning DIV Group were taking financial advice after they had been impacted by sanctions placed on Germany-based VTB Bank. While the company has been dealing with VTB, the Group’s headquarters are in Russia.

Passengers will be issued a full refund from the trust account of the cruise line, Tradewind said.

The decision comes a month after the company suspended new bookings for Golden Horizon, a 140-stateroom vessel that Tradewind calls the largest square-rigged sailing ship in the world.

DIV group is Croatia-based and owns the Brodosplit shipyard that constructed the vessel which was left in its hands after the company that had ordered it, Star Clippers, didn’t take delivery of the ship. Tradewind Voyages is the ship’s operator, DIV group remains the owner.

Source: https://www.cruisemapper.com/news/10663-tradewind-voyages-cancels-all-sailings-golden-horizon

Australia is one of 26 countries lining the Pacific Rim that work closely to promote safe, secure shipping and a clean marine environment within the Asia-Pacific region.

These countries, along with nine observer organisations—including the International Maritime Organization (IMO)—form the Asia-Pacific Heads of Maritime Safety Agencies (APHoMSA) forum.

APHoMSA has met annually since 1996 to discuss maritime issues of regional significance, including initiatives to strengthen regional cooperation; marine environment protection arrangements; emergency response; safe shipping; and to ensure seafarers’ living and working conditions meet international standards.

This week the Cook Islands is hosting the annual APHoMSA session. Australia looks forward to taking part in discussions on important issues shaping maritime in the Asia-Pacific region and globally.

Source: https://www.amsa.gov.au/news-community/news-and-media-releases/asia-pacific-maritime-countries-meet-issues-shaping-maritime