The carrier has been plagued by propellor issues and failed attempts to repair it. Photo: AMSA
The owner of a foreign-flagged bulk carrier has been fined $63,000 for failing to heed Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) orders.
The Gladstone Magistrates Court fined Universal Shipping Alliance Ltd, owner of the Liberia-registered KMAX Leader, for its failure to comply with an AMSA written order.
AMSA Executive Director Operations Michael Drake said ignoring lawful directions from them is not acceptable.
“AMSA will consider swift and strong action if issued directions are not acted on promptly and in full,” he says.
“This may, in some cases, result in prosecution.
“In this case, with a cyclone bearing down on the port, the consequences of not engaging a towage vessel to move the vessel out of the port, could have been catastrophic,” Drake says.
“We will not compromise on the safety of vessels and crew, or any potential threat to the community or environment,” Mr Drake said.
BACKGROUND
The KMAX Leader sailed into Gladstone Port in October 2023 due to problems with its propellor, AMSA says.
The vessel undertook extensive work in November 2023 which failed to repair the propellor.
Concerned by a lack of effective repair plan, the looming cyclone season and lack of propulsion within the Great Barrier Reef region, the authority says it asked, in writing, for a towage and repair plan.
AMSA says the captain of the KMAX Leader and its Australian agent, Universal Shipping Alliance Ltd, failed to respond or to act despite repeated requests.
After more failed attempts to repair the propellor, the KMAX Leader was towed from Australian waters in February 2024 to an overseas port and banned from Australian waters for six months.
During the 2023-24 financial year, AMSA issued 57 directions to vessels and operators in relation to safety breaches, mechanical deficiencies and maritime labour issues.
