Banned ship headed to port

A container ship banned from entering Australian ports over repeated welfare breaches is due to dock in Tauranga this weekend.

The Liberian-flagged, German-owned Vega Auriga is currently en-route from Brisbane where it was inspected by officials and banned due to breaches of seafarer welfare and ship maintenance.

German-owned Vega Auriga is on track to Tauranga. Photo: Nigel Price

It is currently 1294 nautical miles from Tauranga in the Tasman Sea.

The Port of Tauranga shipping schedule says the container ship is expected to dock in Tauranga at 5.30pm on Saturday before departing the following day at 4.30am for Sydney.

The 11,809 deadweight ton ship's agent in Tauranga is the Mediterranean Shipping Company, the same company that chartered the Rena back in 2011.

Like the Rena, which struck the Astrolabe Reef about 25km off the coast of Tauranga on October 5, 2011, Vega Auriga is Filipino crewed.

Maritime New Zealand spokesperson Steve Rendle says the organisation is aware the ship is heading for Tauranga and will inspect it on arrival.

He says further inspections or an investigation will only take place depending on inspection results.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has prohibited Vega Auriga from using or entering any Australian ports due to repeated breaches relating to seafarer welfare and maintenance of the ship.

The authority says it has detained the ship three times since last July with repeated concerns for the welfare of the crew including improper payment of wages, inadequate living and working conditions and inadequate maintenance resulting in an unseaworthy and substandard vessel.

The ship has been banned for three months and can re-enter only after the authority is satisfied it has met its standards.

AMSA safety division general manager, Allan Schwartz, says vessels entering Australian ports must ensure they meet minimum international standards.

"Vessels that do not meet such standards, including standards for the welfare and treatment of crew, pose an increased risk to seafarers, safe operations and the marine environment.

"Seafarer welfare is just as important as the proper maintenance of ship equipment, and an integral part of safe operations. A failure in either system could lead to serious accidents."

Allan says AMSA takes its responsibilities for ensuring compliance with all international safety conventions seriously.

"Seafarers live a tough life under even the best of circumstances, spending many months at sea away from family and friends."

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9 comments

Have we learn't nothing

Posted on 28-08-2014 16:11 | By pingu

Why are we allowing an unsafe boat into our port? Have we learnt nothing from the Rena, same company and Filipino crew again. This is just plain stupidity !!!!!


Rena Mk2

Posted on 28-08-2014 16:40 | By Bronzewing

So it is a floating junk heap and we welcome it. Maybe shipping agents need to boycott Major Shonky Carriers to get them to clean up their act. Pay the staff properly and treat them as people not commodities. Other companies do and make money


banned

Posted on 28-08-2014 16:51 | By Captain Sensible

If it is banned from Australia for three months, by AMSA, wondering why it is sailing for Sydney @ 0430 on Saturday?


DO

Posted on 28-08-2014 18:41 | By Capt_Kaveman

They not understand what BANNED means look what happened to the rena and they want this one here too send it away


Crazy logic

Posted on 28-08-2014 20:24 | By The Sage

What the heck is going on? haven't they learned a lesson and nearly 3 years on to the day.


A little difficult!!!

Posted on 29-08-2014 04:56 | By Sambo Returns

to inspect, when it is aground somewhere..... why is there not just a blanket international ban on any un seaworthy vessels? and I like Captain Sensible am a little bewildered with it being banned from Australian Ports, yet is heading there from Tauranga, so whats the go with that?.


Maybe

Posted on 29-08-2014 05:09 | By GreertonBoy

They think that Sydney is in a different country than Brisbane? Maybe the guy driving it wasn't given any maps? Lets hope this one does better than Rena.... please!


RE Rena MK2

Posted on 29-08-2014 08:24 | By Sunny700

Why didnt Maritime NZ pick up on any of these reported problems discovered in AU - notices of detention are pubically available and if a vessel is detained in AU you would think that the authorities in NZ would of been made aware? Was it inspected by Maritime NZ but they didnt find anything?? FYI Bronzewing, the safety and operation of this vessel (like the Rena) is the responsibility of the owners - not the charters MSC. Get your facts straight please


Get lost

Posted on 01-09-2014 17:11 | By drgoon

Another German we don't need in this country..... Ban it from enetering TGA and any other NZ port.


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