The Africa Alke has now left Brisbane after the vessel and its crew were detained by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

31 May

The Africa Alke was detained by the Australian authorities because members of the crew were unable to show that they could use the ship’s navigational equipment.

The vessel had already sailed down the Queensland coast and the Great Barrier Reef before it was detained in Brisbane on 26 May.

The ship’s operator flew in a trainer to teach the crew the vessel’s Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS).

The vessel was subsequently released on 28 May by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. (AMSA)

The 177 metre African Alke started its journey from Portland, USA. It is a Panama-flagged bulk carrier.

Speaking on 28 May, a spokesman for AMSA said: “The vessel African Alke was released from detention at 1pm (AEST) today after attendance by an AMSA surveyor to confirm the training in ECDIS was effective.”

27 May

The African Alke, which made its maiden voyage in April, was detained by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority on 26 May.

A port state control inspection found the crew of the Panama-flagged bulk carrier were unable to demonstrate that they could use the vessel’s Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS).

The ship’s operators have now flown in an ECDIS trainer to teach the crew.

The cargo ship had already made its way down the Queensland coast and the Great Barrier Reef before it was detained in Brisbane.

Speaking to YBW, a spokesman for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority said there was no suggestion that the African Alke was drifting off course.

“The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has detained a Panama-flagged bulk carrier, African Alke, in Brisbane. The vessel had sailed from Mackay to Brisbane. During
a port state control inspection at Pinkenba on Thursday, May 26 the bridge watchkeeping officers were unable to demonstrate the Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) to an appropriate standard.”

The spokesman continued: “The vessel was detained because the safety management system had not identified a failure in the lack of on board familiarisation training in the use of ECDIS. There is no suggestion the ship was drifting off course.”

“The ship’s operators have flown an ECDIS trainer in from Singapore to train the crew. AMSA will release the ship from detention once it is satisfied the crew have been trained to an appropriate standard and can demonstrate the expected level of competency,” concluded the spokesman.

The 177 metre African Alke started its journey from Portland, USA. It is currently berthed at Fisherman’s Island, Brisbane.

A spokesman for the ship’s lessee, MUR Shipping, said the ship was managed by Japan-based B&S Enterprises, which was ultimately responsible for the training of the crew.

Brisbane Senator, Glen Lazarus is now campaigning for legislation to put Australian crew on board every ship operating in the country’s waters.

Commenting on the African Alke situation, Lazarus said: “This ship is just the tip of the iceberg and unless new laws are put in place to protect our waters and our coast we are facing the very possibility of another environmental catastrophe in our waters and further harm to the Great Barrier Reef.”