Australian authorities have detained an APL boxship that lost 40 containers overboard after they discovered a “clear breach” of Solas requirements.
Inspections of the 5,510-teu APL England (built 2001) found that “lashing arrangements for cargo were inadequate and securing points for containers on the deck ... were heavily corroded”, according to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA).
The APL England is being detained in the Port of Brisbane and "the detention will not be lifted until these serious deficiencies are rectified. This is a now a matter for the ship’s owner, American President Lines (APL), and the operator to rectify.”
Without pre-empting the outcome of its investigation, it was clear that the “risk of container loss occurring could have been reduced”, the AMSA said.
“We expect the shipowner and its insurer to take full responsibility for addressing any impacts of this incident,” it added.
“We have heard today the insurer is already engaging contractors to retrieve some of the floating containers."
AMSA aircraft are said to have carried out an aerial survey of the New South Wales coastline off eastern Australia to help locate and identify semi-submerged containers in the water.
“The search identified two targets which we now know are five containers, including one set of four containers locked together,” it said.
