Media Release

Port State Control Report 2002

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority prevented 166 foreign flagged ships from leaving Australian ports last year until major safety problems identified during routine inspections were fixed.

AMSA made 2,842 ship inspections of 3,193 foreign flag ships that visited Australia in 2002.

The number of ships detained in 2002 represented a higher annual detention rate of 5.8 percent of the foreign ships inspected, compared to 4.4 per cent in 2001.

AMSA does not attribute the rise in the detention rate to a decline in the quality of ships visiting Australia.

AMSA’s Chief Executive Officer, Clive Davidson, said the higher detention rate reflected introduction of new seafarer qualification requirements in early 2002, AMSA’s focused inspection program, and improved targeting of higher risk ships.

“The average number of deficiencies found per ship inspection continued its downward trend from 4.3 in 1998 to 2.6 in 2002.”

“Despite the relatively small proportion of ships detained, there are still some ship owners, flag States and classification societies unable or unwilling to ensure ships meet international ship safety and environment protection standards.”

“Australia is renowned worldwide for its uncompromising approach to port State control and AMSA will continue to target the small part of the industry that fails to comply with internationally agreed standards,” Mr Davidson said.

Problems with fire safety equipment, seafarer certification, lifesaving appliances and radio systems were the main reasons for detention in 2002.

AMSA’s 2002 port State control report is available at: www.amsa.gov.au

Further information:

Ben Mitchell AMSA PR 0418 164 901

[back to top]