INTERCARGO has launched the 13th edition of its Benchmarking Report, noting Australia’s leading role in vessel inspections.
The report notes a wide variation in Port State Control activity. For example, vessels calling at Australian ports (AMSA) report a Deficiency per Inspection of 3.44 compared to the average across all authorities of 1.26.
AMSA also has the highest rate of detentions, with a detention rate of 7.4% versus the average of 2.08%. When comparing bulk carrier detention rates versus average performance of all types of ships, detention rates of bulk carriers in the Black Sea and Paris MoU regions were amongst the highest, with the worst performance being in the US where detention rates of bulk carriers were 43% higher than the overall average (0.90% versus 0.63%).
Intercargo has launched the 13th edition of its Benchmarking report.
The report notes that members of the International Group of P&I Clubs continue to record significantly less deficiencies than the industry, with a Deficiency per Inspection ratio of 1.46 versus 2.34. However, some clubs reporting nearly double the number of deficiencies per inspection than others (1.21 versus 2.17).
Overall, INTERCARGO members demonstrated improved performance compared with the industry both in terms of deficiencies and detentions, with non-members reporting more than a third more detentions as a percentage of the fleet (2.5% versus 1.8%).
Quality operators
Paul Markides, Marine Quality Manager at INTERCARGO, says: “We were delighted to see, once again, INTERCARGO-registered vessels outperforming the industry. As an Association we represent quality dry bulk operators, and these findings validate the work that we do to raise standards within the dry bulk industry.
“The value of the Benchmarking Report lies not only in the way that it enables operators to compare themselves with their peers, but also in the opportunity it provides for an operator to compare their own fleet performance against the profile of classification societies, ship registries, and P&I clubs, enabling them to seek out quality partners.”
Safety a priority
At INTERCARGO’s Spring Semi-Annual Meeting, the safety of the bulk carrier sector was recognised as a continuing priority for the Association as it strives to keep issues such as cargo liquefaction, the fuel oil sulphur limit and vessel design and construction, high on the industry’s agenda. Secretary General Kostas Gkonis said that “safety is a key component and driver of the ESG framework, a topic we have been looking into with great attention.”
The dry bulk sector is the largest shipping sector in terms of number of ships and deadweight. Dry bulk carriers account for 43% of the world fleet (in tonnage) and carry an estimated 55% of the global transport work.
AMSA at work
AMSA has zero-tolerance for sub-standard ships operating in Australian waters. In June 2021, for example, after one of the longest detentions of a foreign ship in Australian waters, AMSA issued an unprecedented 36-month ban to the Panama-flagged bulk carrier, Maryam. The vessel was detained Maryam in Port Kembla in February 2021 for numerous deficiencies including issues with its safety equipment and inoperative electricity generators. Not only was the ship deemed to be unseaworthy, but the living conditions onboard were in breach of the Maritime Labour Convention – there was no electricity, no running water, no sanitary facilities and no ventilation.
In April 2021, AMSA banned the Panama-flagged bulk carrier Movers 3 from Australian ports for 18 months. Movers 3 has been detained at anchor off Weipa in far north Queensland for failing to carry out important regular surveys of the ship and for appalling working and living conditions onboard.
