Tag: AMSA

On 8 November, AMSA signed a contract to commence operations with Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicles (ROUVs) to investigate the containers lost from the YM Efficiency. The images of the ocean floor by the ROUVs will allow an assessment by salvage experts on whether the items can be brought to the surface safely and without causing more damage to the environment.

In the early hours of Sunday, 23 October, AMSA coordinated the rescue of four people from their sinking vessel about 90 km north-east of Townsville. AMSA noted on the occasion that the fishermen had all the necessary safety equipment onboard, which eased the rescue operation. 

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) coordinated the search and rescue operation for a French yachtsman in the Indian Ocean, approximately 1300 kilometres south west of Perth, Western Australia. On 21 October, around 12.45am, AMSA was notified of a dismasted yacht taking on water.

A P&O cruise ship spilled 27,000 litres of food waste and grey water into the Great Barrier Reef during August, as Greens senator Larissa Waters told a hearing, citing a, yet unpublished, AMSA report on the incident. Waste from the galley tank was  discharged by engineers in the Great Barrier Reef.

From 1 September 2018, owners of human-powered and sailing vessels less than 7.5 metres in Australia can be exempt from having to get a unique identifier for each vessel, if a certificate of operation covers the vessels, AMSA said. Exemption 1 allows greater flexibility around the unique identifier requirements for these vessels.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority informed that a total of 34 domestic commercial vessel incidents were reported in the month of August. Of these, 12 were serious. Reporting marine incidents to AMSA is meeting reporting obligations under Australian laws.

AMSA coordinated a multi-national search and rescue response after being informed of an injured solo yachtsman Abhilash Tomy. A French fisheries patrol vessel rescued Abhliash Tom, while it also evacuated a second solo yachtsman, Gregor McGuckin, from the SV Hanley Energy Endurance.

AMSA has a steady increase in incident reports, from 1721 reports in 2013, to 3017 reports in 2017, which represents a 75% increase over a five-year period. From 1 January to 30 June 2018, AMSA received 1611 incident reports and 78% of them concerned some form of technical issue.

Organisations which prioritise the safety and welfare of their seafarers over business costs and performance have more developed safety cultures, lower levels of fatigue and sleep problems among their crews. This is one of seven key findings from a recent study into safety culture in the maritime industry.

A Port of Newcastle survey vessel has located 37 of the 81 containers that fell overboard the cargo ship YM Efficiency, on June 1, 30 kilometres southeast of Newcastle, off Australia. The vessel continues the search for the remaining containers. Most of the containers were found near where the YM Efficiency lost the cargo.