Meratus ships banned from Aussie Ports for 1 year

Australia has issued its first year-long ban after another Meratus Line cargoship failed a safety check.
Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said the 6,400-dwt MV Red Rover (built 1997) will be barred from entering or using any of its ports after it was detained for the third time since September last year. The most recent detention was on 28 January in Fremantle.
AMSA said all three checks identified “failings in the vessel’s safety management system, including a lack of effective passage planning and failure to use appropriate charts and publications.”
This is the third Meratus ship to have been banned recently, with the 3,194-dwt MV Territory Trader (built 1991) 3,400–dwt MV Meratus Sangatta (built 1996) both receiving three-month orders.
“All three of these vessels repeatedly demonstrated they were not operating or being managed to meet applicable standards despite repeated advice by AMSA to take action to improve performance,” AMSA added.