Seven Foreign Ships Detained in U.K. in July

The Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) announced that seven foreign ships were under detention in UK ports during July 2004 after failing Port State Control safety inspection. Latest monthly figures show that there were 5 new detentions of foreign flagged ships in UK ports during July 2004, along with 2 other ships still under detention from previous months. This represents a decrease of 2 new detentions in comparison to June. The overall rate of detentions compared with inspections carried out over the last 12 months is 6.1% which is a decrease of 0.3% compared to June's 12 month rate.

On the 2nd July 2004 a Ukrainian flag, Russian Maritime Register of Shipping classed, passenger vessel, carrying 384 passengers and 233 crew was detained for 1 day at the London International Cruise Terminal, Tilbury. An inspection was carried out in conjunction with London Port Health Authority. A total of 21 deficiencies were recorded including means of escape not marked, door closures not properly maintained, fire dampers not marked, radar inoperative, nautical publications not up to date. Port Health Officers were concerned to find food stores and galleys infested with cockroaches and poor quality of drinking water. A pest control company was called in by the ship's local agents to carry out cockroach treatment in relevant areas. Tests on the drinking water system revealed that the chlorine in the drinking water was not being adequately controlled. Other food hygiene deficiencies included poor standard of cleaning in operational food production areas, food not kept at safe temperatures and unsatisfactory personal hygiene standards. Measures were put in to place to rectify the deficiencies.

An Irish flag, Russian Maritime Register of Shipping classed, general cargo ship was detained in Southampton on 28th July 2004. The ship was in a poor condition with 49 deficiencies recorded. The Irish Administration was requested to attend and to inform the MCA when it was considered that the ship met the requirements of the relevant International conventions. The ship is still under detention at the end of July. Following the implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code on 1st July 2004, a Russian flag, Russian Maritime Register of Shipping classed, general cargo ship was detained in Tilbury on 6th July 2004 for an invalid International Ship Security Certificate and ISM certificates, which did not reflect the recent change of management