Offshore Chemical Storage Okayed by Australian Authorities

AMSA cleared storage of potentially explosive materials aboard cargo ship, after safety concerns addressed

A shipload of potentially explosive chemicals sitting off Newcastle, New South Wales, was given the all-clear by a federal agency, the NSW government says, according to a report in 'The Sydney Morning Herald' newspaper.

Chemicals manufacturer Orica loaded about 3000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate onto the cargo ship MCP Kopenhagen for storage while the company carries out maintenance at its Kooragang Island plant.

An AMSA (Australian Maritime Safety Authority) spokesman said eight operational deficiencies identified on the ship were fixed before the vessel sailed from port.

None of the deficiencies related to the carriage of dangerous cargo, and none was serious enough for AMSA to detain the vessel, the spokesman said.