Australia bans Cyprus-flagged bulk carrier

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has imposed a ban on the bulk carrier Peace due to insufficient maintenance and significant deterioration of onboard fixtures.

The Peace (IMO 9568067) is a Cyprus-flagged vessel managed by Danaos Shipping. The ship was detained in Newcastle on May 31, 2024, but was released on Monday, June 3, after addressing watertight and weathertight deficiencies.

The ship is now barred from entering Australian ports for a period of three months.

Danaos Shipping also manages the containership Suez Canal (IMO 9230311), which was held for an extended period of detention in January this year.

AMSA’s acting Executive Director of Operations, Greg Witherall, expressed serious concerns about other vessels operated by the company. This concern followed the issues faced with the Suez Canal, prompting AMSA to increase the frequency of inspections.

"In January 2024, we issued Danaos Shipping a formal warning letter, urging them to address the systemic problems that led to the detention of the Suez Canal in Australia that same month," Mr. Witherall stated.

"It appears that this warning was ignored. Just five months later, another Danaos Shipping vessel, the Peace, has been detained in an Australian port due to a lack of maintenance and severe deterioration of fixtures like hatches.

"The condition of the Peace posed a significant and unacceptable risk to both the seafarers onboard and Australia’s marine environment. Operating ships in such an unseaworthy state is unacceptable."

Mr. Witherall emphasized the grave potential consequences of the watertight and weathertight failings.

“Permitting a ship to degrade to this extent is entirely unacceptable—there are no justifications for such neglect,” he said.

"This is why we have taken the step to ban this ship from entering any Australian port for the next three months.

"We may also take further action against Danaos Shipping if they continue to operate unseaworthy vessels."