Australia Bans MSC Containership for 90 Days: AMSA Calls Out Operator Over Repeat Offenses

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has banned a Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) containership from entering Australian ports over maintenance and safety-related deficiencies following a string of detentions involving MSC-operated ships. AMSA issued a 90-day refusal of access direction notice on Sunday against the Liberian-flagged MSC Kymea II. AMSA says it issued the notice following months of sub-standard performance from the ship’s operator, Cyprus-based MSC Shipmanagement Ltd, including critical maintenance issues.  Over the past two years, AMSA has detained nine MSC-operated ships, including five so far in 2023. AMSA said many of these detentions showed systemic sub-standard maintenance practices onboard.   The...