Australian Maritime Safety Authority
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) issued the most severe ban to date on Marshall Islands-flagged livestock carrier Barkly Pearl last night.
The Barkly Pearl was originally seen on the 3rdrd November 2020 travels through northern Australian waters with a large hole in the hull.
Due to concerns over the structural integrity of ships, the potential threat of pollution to the marine environment and an immediate risk to the safety of seafarers, AMSA issued an intervention directive instructing ships to the nearest safe port at Geraldton.
Over the past two months, AMSA has worked with its ship inspectors and ship owners and operators to develop appropriate repair solutions and yesterday, 7th January 2021, Barkly Pearl is loaded onto the MV Falcon, a semi-submersible Heavy Load Carrier for safe departure from Australian waters.
Before it could leave Australian waters, Barkly Pearl was issued with a denial of notification of direction of access, under section 246 of the 2012 Navigation Act.
AMSA General Manger Operation, Allan Schwartz, said this meant Barkly Pearl was barred from entering or using Australian ports for 24 months.
‘This is an important decision from AMSA. This is the first time a ship has been barred from entering an Australian port during this period and will certainly affect the vessel’s commercial operations.
‘The Australian public has the expectation that any ship operating or traveling through Australian waters is fit for sailing and when a vessel is found to be poorly maintained AMSA will not hesitate to use the array of forces available to it.
Barkly Pearl owners and operators neglect to maintain their vessels, endangering the lives of seafarers and posing an immediate threat to Australia’s marine environment.
“The appropriate course of action is for AMSA to ban Mutiara Barkly for two years.”
AMSA would like to thank the Western Australian authorities, Mid West Ports and the residents of Geraldton for their patience during the two months detention of Mutiara Barkly.
The MV Barkly Pearl vision drawn from the AMSA Challenger search and rescue jet is available for
/ Public Release.