Australia Bans Second Briese Heavylift Ship Over Safety Violations

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has banned a second Briese Heavylift GmbH & Co vessel from Australian waters due to safety violations, including failures of the safety management system and defective equipment.

The AMSA issued the 180-day ban general cargo ship BBC Pearl after a port State control inspection in Cairns found multiple safety management system failures, a defective emergency generator, and defective fire dampers. The vessel was detained in Cairns for four days due to serious deficiencies before proceeding to Port Hedland where the banning notice was issued.

The ban marks the second in a month for a vessel belonging to Briese Heavylift GmbH & Co, following the 90-day ban issued to the BBC Weser in early June.

AMSA said the operator has a history of poor performance and has received multiple warnings that future safety violations would lead to strict enforcement action. In banning the BBC Weser, the AMSA noted that one in five Briese Heavylift ships had been detained in Australia since May 2021—a detention rate that is over three times higher than the average for ships visiting Australian waters.

AMSA Executive Director of Operations Michael Drake said that the safety violations on the BBC Pearl were alarming as they posed a real safety risk to the seafarers on board.

“The defective emergency generator would render the vessel helpless in the event of a main power supply failure, and this is the second time the BBC Pearl has been detained for a defective emergency generator,” Drake said. “These are clear violations of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea.”

The ban comes as Australia continues to crackdown on unsafe and unseaworthy ships and their operators. Drake warns that any operators who use substandard ships in Australia will be held accountable.

“Australia has a reputation for upholding high safety standards for vessels entering our waters,” he said. “We have imposed a longer ban of 180-days on the BBC Pearl to send a clear message to any poor-performing operator that Australia finds these conditions to be unacceptable.”

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