An elderly Ukrainian cargo vessel has been barred from European ports after failing to call for repairs in its home country.
The Paris MOU on Port State Control (Paris MOU) has banned the Moldova-flag 3,200-dwt Mila (built 1972) for three months.
The vessel was detained in Chioggia, Italy, on 2 May after failing safety checks. It left the port on 10 May but failed to call at the agreed repair yard in Izmail, Ukraine.
Paris MOU secretary general Luc Smulders told TradeWinds the owner had applied for a single voyage to a repair port due to the detected detainable deficiencies.
“At that moment in time, Izmail port was available and confirmation was received from Izmail’s port authority that the ship was accepted at the repair yard,” he said.
“The ship actually headed to Izmail, but due to the waiting time to call at the agreed repair port, the ship’s company decided unilaterally to change the agreed repair port to Tuzla without prior consultation with the PSC office, which issued the authorisation,” Smulders revealed.
“Since the conditions of the single voyage were not met, the ship has been banned,” he added.
The vessel is listed as operated by Argo Shipping of Ukraine, which has been contacted for comment.
The Mila had been held for eight days with 18 deficiencies.
These included expired certificates for safety equipment, radio, pollution prevention, and load lines.
Unhygienic conditions
Inspectors also found malfunctioning fire safety doors and unhygienic accommodation, recreational and catering areas.
The provisions on board were insufficient and the inspection also noted corroded decks.
A previous detention in Italy in February had been partly due to a holed deck.
Togo-flag ship banned
The Paris MOU also barred the Togo-flag 4,300-dwt cargoship Cpt Amhad II (built 1991).
The vessel, operated by Perama Shipmanagement of Greece, was also banned for three months after failing three inspections over the last two years.
The cargo ship was detained in Ravenna, Italy, on 26 May, for four days with 24 deficiencies.
Rest period documents were not as required and the emergency systems muster list was incomplete.
The check also found inoperative fire safety equipment.
The ship was also held in Italy in September 2021 and Croatia in March of that year.
