Australia bars Meratus Lines vessel for MLC breaches

The Indonesian-flagged Meratus Sangatta, operated by Meratus Lines, has been barred from Australian ports for three months until 6 April 2015. In addition Meratus Lines ships will now be subject to inspection every port call.

The ship was inspected after a complaint was received under the MLC and detained at the port of Alma after multiple failures in compliance with the convention were found.

“The recent detention found numerous failings in compliance with the MLC, which place the welfare of seafarers at risk,” Mick Kinley, ceo of AMSA, said.

“The more serious of these deficiencies included not having enough food and potable water for the next voyage, defective and insufficient refrigerated storage to safely store fresh food, defective laundry, sanitary and cooking facilities, as well as expired Seafarer Employment Agreements.”

It is the third ship to be barred from Australian ports under the country’s revised Navigation Act following the Territory Trader in November last year and the Vega Auriga in August.