Australia’s trusted marine authority, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), has delivered a groundbreaking verdict, prohibitively banning a Chinese-owned freighter from accessing Australian shores for a year. This verdict was handed down after evidence of extreme seafarer misuse, including wage theft, was unveiled aboard the vessel. Intensifying its enforcement commitment, the AMSA aims to ensure pristine safety and well-being for seafarers on any ship venturing into Australian waters. Six refusals of access directives have been released by the AMSA since 2023 began.
Tackling Illegal Activities On High Seas
The Nigerian Navy stands unyielding against maritime crimes, showcased by their latest action: disintegrating a suspected oil-smuggling ship. This instance is the third of its kind, in which the previously impounded crewboat Cecilia was destroyed without any prior court authorization. The Nigerian Navy claims that Cecilia was illegally carrying almost 350,000 liters of unlawfully refined diesel fuel in its various tanks. Along with confiscating the vessel, the navy apprehended three crew members, before seizing, and ultimately incinerating, the vessel by the waterway.
Pioneering Autonomous Sailing Technology
In a monumental achievement for maritime autonomy, Hyundai Heavy Industries has handed over what they believe to be the first merchant ship equipped with Artificial Intelligence (AI) -enabled machinery monitoring and safety mechanisms. These systems are crafted to empower the ship to undertake extensive voyages sans the assistance of a navigator, deckhand, or engineer. This avant-garde 180,000 dwt freighter is fuelled by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and belongs to H-Line Shipping.
More Delays for the Glen Sannox Ferry
The Ferguson Marine shipbuilding facility in Scotland has been further hindered, with the Glen Sannox ferry project pushing back its completion once again. Almost six years since setting off with the project, the nearly completed ship, Glen Sannox, is compelled to adhere to recent safety regulation mandates. It has been decided that the vessel’s design must now include additional ladder-ways and broader corridor doors. This shift in the project’s course is set to delay the ferry’s launch until the latter half of 2024, effectively missing the Arran summer trip rush.
