Port Walcott News

A Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Agia Sofia has been banned from Australian ports for six months after authorities discovered seafarers on board were being underpaid.Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) inspected the 82,045 dwt panamax bulker at Hay Point in Mackay on Saturday after receiving a complaint via the International Transport Workers’ Federation and found evidence that some of the ship's crew had not received their full wages since August 2019. The outstanding wages total about AUD $45,000 (US $32,000).AMSA said it has taken steps to ensure that the seafarers are paid in full before the ship i s cleared to leave Australia.The 229-meter bulk carrier was built in 2016 and is owned by Greek company Marmaras Navigation Ltd.

On Saturday, June 9, the captain and crew of the Wallem-managed vessel the bulk carrier KSL Seoul rescued six fishermen after their boat was involved in an accident and subsequently capsized.The KSL Seoul was passing through the Mindoro Strait en route to Port Walcott in West Australia when they spotted the capsized fishing boat, the Sister Reds with six Filipino fishermen clinging onto its hull.The KSL Seoul immediately notified the Philippine coastguard and the local Maritime Rescue Coordinating Council (MRCC) and changed course to approach the boat.

Vessel sales for July 2017 (as of August 1) as prepared by Shipping Intelligence, Inc., New York.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. today announced that on July 5, 2015, the MOL-operated bulk carrier Spring Zephyr safely rescued all three survivors clinging to driftwood 165 km east of the island of Mindanao, the Philippines. ・    At 12:20 (all times were in local time) on July 5, 2015,the Spring Zephyr,sailing from the Port Walcott, Australia, to Port of Oita, Japan, spotted three persons clinging to driftwood and immediately changed course to approach the castaways, and started rescue operations. ・    At 13:15 of the same day, the three survivors were safely rescued. ・    At 3:00 on July 7, the survivors were turned over to the Philippine Coast Guard. Captain        : Capt. Shipowner        : Shunzan Kaiun Co., Ltd.

Port Walcott remains closed after the passing of ex-Tropical Cyclone Christine pending surveyors' inspections of wharfs. Indications are that it will be at least two-three days before loading recommences. The port had been closed at 1800 on December 29, and its anchorages reopened at 1800 on December 31. At Dampier, the port was closed at 1800 on December 29. The outer anchorages reopened at 1800 on December 31 and the inner anchorages at 0600 on January 1.

Berthing of vessels to be confirmed once the appropriate channel inspections have been carried out, sea conditions are within safe operating parameters for berthing and the Terminals are ready to start loading again. At this stage, first vessels to berth will be vessels that pre-loaded prior to terminal closure. Port Hedland has now re-opened and loading operations have resumed. The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre in Perth advises that although Ex-TC 'Christine' has weakened below tropical cyclone intensity, damaging wind gusts are likely to continue on the northeastern side of the system during Wednesday as it moves quickly across southeastern WA. Moderate to heavy rainfall is expected near the track.

The Pilbara Apollo, the latest addition to the RAstar 3200 escort tug series was delivered to its owners, Rio Tinto Ltd., earlier this year. The vessel was constructed at Uzmar Shipbuilding Industry Co. in Turkey and will operate at Rio Tinto’s iron ore export facilities at Cape Lambert (Port Walcott) and Dampier, Australia. The Pilbara Apollo is the first of six new RAstar 3200 tugs to be delivered to Rio Tinto as part of this contract. The tugs will assist very large ore carriers in berthing and un-berthing at exposed, open water berths in severe wind and wave conditions.