U.K. Detains 11 Foreign Ships in June

The Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) announced that 11 foreign ships were under detention in UK ports during June 2003 after failing port state control safety inspection. Latest monthly figures show that 6 foreign ships were detained in UK ports during June 2003 along with 5 other ships still under detention from previous months. The overall rate of detentions compared with inspections carried out over the last 12 months is 7.2% which is a decrease of 0.3% on the detention rate to May. The ships detained in May included:- A Korean General Cargo Vessel of 2029„h GT in Goole for 3 days due to overloading and MF radio installation inoperative A St Vincent and Grenadine Bulk Carrier of 3961 GT in Grimsby,„h still under detention, 28 deficiencies recorded before inspection suspended. Among detainable deficiencies were no valid statutory certificates, fire detection system inoperative, port lifeboat drive coupling broken, breakdown of Safety Management System on board. A Maltese Oil Tanker of 20749 GT at„h Belfast for 4 days with 28 recorded deficiencies including poor abandon ship drill, lifeboats not operationally ready, lifeboat davit rollers seized, quick closing valves leaking fuel when shut and failure of safety management system. The list details the name, flag state, owner or operator and classification society of each detained ship together with the summary of the main grounds for detention.