Volume 10: Number 2: May 2003

RISK WATCH
The Britannia Steam Ship
Insurance Association Limited

Zero Tolerance
Quarantine problems in Australia

Our Australian correspondents have advised that the

Australian Quarantine & Inspection Service (AQIS) is now
inspecting and condemning a widening range of cargoes
where the presence of grain or soil (even in minimal
quantities) has been detected.
This zero tolerance policy is to try to prevent the

Where the cargo is difficult to clean or treat, there is a

import into Australia of exotic pests and diseases

significant risk that the ship will be prevented from

such as Karnal Bunt.

discharging in Australia.

AQISs intervention in respect of fertiliser cargoes has

Our correspondents are therefore recommending

been highlighted previously and most problems

that the holds of bulk carriers carrying any type

continue to be in respect of such cargoes which will

of cargo (but especially fertiliser cargoes) to

be spread directly onto crops in Australia. However,

Australian ports be thoroughly cleaned prior to

each port in Australia has an AQIS representative in

loading so that the holds (including brackets, pipes

charge of import clearance and all types of cargo may

and spaces) are 100% clean of grain and mud. It

be inspected especially if AQIS suspect a particular

may be prudent to have a surveyor familiar with

cargo may be contaminated with traces of mud or

AQISs requirements in attendance to supervise the

grain. In addition to fertiliser cargoes, examples of

cleaning and to check the holds prior to loading.The

AQISs intervention in respect of other cargoes in

Master should supervise loading and reject any cargo

recent months include; used machinery and motor

that is contaminated with mud, grain or other

vehicles, containerised cargoes, steel products,

agricultural products.

plywood, timber and other raw materials.We are also

advised by our correspondents that AQISs intervention
is, if anything, likely to increase further in future.

Members should also try to ensure that their charterparties

clearly set out the responsibilities of their charterers both in
respect of additional hold cleaning prior to loading cargo
for Australia and the associated costs.

RISK WATCH The Britannia Steam Ship Insurance Association Limited

Attempted drug smuggling in Colombia

The Association has recently dealt with a drug-related
incident in Buenaventura, Colombia, when an attempt was
made to place drugs on board a containership.
Fortunately, due to the prompt action of the Master,

followed by a naval gunboat, two of the guards

the perpetrators were apprehended and the drugs

jumped into the sea. Fortunately, the packages and

recovered. With the assistance of the Associations

both individuals were picked up by the coastguard.

Colombian correspondent, the ship was able to sail

with the minimum of delay.

As a result of the incident the ship was ordered by the

Colombian Navy to drop anchor and was

The incident occurred whilst the ship was inbound to

subsequently boarded by naval personnel in order to

Buenaventura to load/discharge containers.The crew

undertake a complete search. It was later learnt that

had been forewarned by the Master to keep extra

the packages thrown overboard contained narcotics.

vigilance in respect of any drug smuggling and shore

Sixty-one containers were opened during the

leave was cancelled. On arrival at Buenaventura Bay

inspection by the local authorities.

the ship took on board a pilot and eight private

guards, who had been appointed by the charterers

Fortunately, as the Master had acted promptly and

agents to protect the ship once alongside.The

properly in every respect, the ship was subsequently

guards were heavily armed and were also carrying

allowed to resume her operations and depart with the

personal bags. After the party had boarded, the

minimum of delay; the supposition being that each

master noted that the ship was being followed by a

guard had carried on board part of the overall drugs

motor boat and duly requested the pilot to inform

haul which was to be secreted in a reefer container for

the coastguard. Shortly afterwards, the bosun was

onward carriage to the USA.The incident highlights an

patrolling the deck and noticed that one of the

unexpected way in which those involved in drug

guards had opened a reefer container and two

trafficking attempt to place drugs on board. It was later

damaged cartons were left on deck. On challenging

ascertained that two out of the eight guards were

the individual, the guard threw some black packages

unlicensed and did not belong to the private guard

overboard and seeing that the ship was being

company. Subsequently all the guards were arrested.

Our Colombian correspondent has since provided some guidelines

which Members ought to consider when entering Colombian ports:


The crew should be warned of the risks of carrying or trafficking drugs and evidence of these warnings shown

to the authorities where necessary;



When going ashore, crew should be warned that if they choose to have contact with local people they should

be very careful to ensure that the persons they are dealing with are not connected with illegal activities;


Keep a security log at the gangway, recording the identity of any persons boarding or disembarking the ship,

including crewmembers;


Perform other security checks, inspections and patrols with the crew and security guards;

Do not allow the access of any person on board who does not have a specific job to be performed;

Keep doors, hatches, etc., locked to places where no work is scheduled to be carried out;

Keep permanent watches in place where people are working;

Keep permanent watches on the main deck and boat deck and at night time, all these areas should be well lit;

Attempted drug smuggling in Colombia continued



Look out for the approach of small boats or the presence of unauthorised divers or other attempts by

unauthorised persons to board the ship;



Request the inspection of the anti-narcotics team before departure, including an underwater inspection;

In the event of drugs being found on board, co-operate fully with the authorities during the subsequent

investigations;


In the event of any problems, immediately seek assistance from the Associations correspondents.

The Association is grateful to our correspondent for their assistance

in this case and Members are reminded that they should be most
vigilant, especially when in Colombian waters.

Making contact - Peruvian regulations for ship reporting

The Associations Peruvian correspondents have alerted us
to the problems being faced by ships Masters attempting
to satisfy Peruvian Regulation 0313 - MA/DCG, which dates
back to 1994 and requires notice to be given when ships
enter or leave Peruvian waters (defined as up to 200 miles
off the coast of Peru).
Our correspondents advise that the authorities have

the authorities will request a Letter of Undertaking or

made frequent changes to the relevant contact

a cash deposit before allowing the ship to sail. We are

details and that reliance should not be placed upon

advised that attempts to mitigate any fine imposed

Sailing Directions or other shipboard publications

by arguing that out-of-date contact details were

where the contact details are likely to be out-of-date.

inadvertently used will not succeed.

Our correspondents recommend that up-to-date

contact details should be obtained from the ships

At the time of writing the contact details of the

agent prior to each visit to Peru.

authorities are as follows:

Once up-to-date contact details have been obtained

Telex: 3626042
Fax: +(51) (1) 429 1547
Email: dicatramar@marina.mil.pe

then it is imperative that notices be given to the

authorities using these contact details. Notices can be
relayed via the ships agents but any such notices
must be passed to the local authorities using the upto-date contact details and no other means.

Confirmation of these details should be requested

We are advised that failure to comply with Regulation

from the agents prior to the ships entry into Peruvian

0313 MA/DCG may result in a fine of between

waters. Please note that the Regulation itself is

US$15,000 and US$20,000 being imposed.Typically

currently under review and may change shortly.

RISK WATCH is published by The Britannia

Steam Ship Insurance Association Limited
Tindall Riley (Britannia) Limited
New City Court
20 St Thomas Street
London SE1 9RR

The Britannia Steam Ship Insurance Association Limited is

happy for any of the material in Risk Watch to be reproduced
but would ask that written permission is obtained in advance
from the Editors.

Tel +44 (0)20 7407 3588

Fax +44 (0)20 7403 3942
www.britanniapandi.com

The risks of using non-approved contractors

Ships Masters should be aware that many ports require that
any third party contractor providing services to the ship has
to be approved by the Port Authority.
This is especially so in the Peoples Republic of China

Similarly the Master should be aware that in unusual

(PRC). It has come to our attention that Masters are

circumstances eg where there is an incident such as a

often approached by third parties offering services

ship losing an anchor and contractors have to be

such as garbage removal or even slops removal.

utilised, it is the case that divers or work boats will all

have to be from an approved company. It has been

The Port Authorities in the PRC take very seriously

pointed out to us that in such circumstances the Port

the practice of contracting with non-approved

Authority could simply order a ship owner to employ

companies and it is often the case that fines can be

different, authorised, contractors and the ship may

levied if such contractors are utilised. Problems for

find itself asked to pay duplicate costs.

the Master and shipowner may be compounded in

circumstances where the contractor performed his

Masters should always be wary of services offered

services negligently, such as by spilling slops or

other than through a reputable ships agent and in

disposing of them improperly. In such circumstances

the case of unusual services such as divers etc. the

it may well be that the Port Authority not only fines

Master should ask the agents to confirm that the

the ship for using the contractor but also holds the

service provider is a Port Authority approved

ship liable in respect of the contractors negligence.

contractor.

Pilot ladders
The Association has recently received notifications of two
incidents involving injuries sustained by pilots whilst boarding
ships. In each the case, the pilot ladder was in such a poor
condition that it was unable to bear the weight of the pilot.
Chapter V, Regulation 17 of Safety of Life at Sea

disembark safely.The appliances shall be kept clean,

(SOLAS) Convention 1974 provides, amongst other

properly maintained and stowed and shall be

things, that:

regularly inspected to ensure that they are safe to use.

All arrangements for pilot transfer shall efficiently fulfil

their purpose of enabling pilots to embark and

Members are therefore asked to remind their Masters of

the importance of maintaining the pilot ladders in good
condition to help prevent any injury to pilots.