Maltese-registered tanker forced to lay up in UK

by Franco Aloisio

A Maltese-registered oil tanker was forced to lay up in Britain last Tuesday. That same day, the Malta Maritime Authority seized an oil tanker in Sicily owned by the Italian Savarese family, proprietor of the ill-fated Erika, the tanker involved in December's massive oil spill off the French coast.

In a front page article, Lloyd's List reported that a Maltese-registered oil tanker, Santana III, was laid up last Tuesday in Britain after a string of accidents and three port state detentions during this month.

In a separate news item, Lloyd's List reported that the Malta Maritime Authority last Tuesday arrested an oil tanker in Sicily owned by Giuseppe Savarese. The oil tanker, Maria S, was arrested in Augusta over a crew claim for some $107,000 in unpaid wages and technical problems. The technical problems emerged following a flag state inspection carried out by Malta Maritime Authority.

With regards to the laying up of Santana III, Lloyd's List said that the vessel was dangerously unsafe and was of the same type, age, flag and class as the Maltese-registered Erika.

The profile of the 31,300 dwt tanker Santana III, which had no International Safety Management code certification, is bound to add fuel to the debate over how many substandard flag of convenience vessels are still freely trading in European ports. The Santana III is operated by Glyfada Maritime of Athens.

Lloyd's List reported: "Like the Erika, Santana III was built as an oil tanker in the early 1970s. Like the Erika, she had been known for years to have suffered from corrosion. Like the Erika, she was registered in flag of convenience Malta. Like the Erika, she was classed by Registro Italiano Navale. And again like the Erika, she had seen a recent change of class."

Santana III's disgraceful safety record was known to several port state control authorities. In May 1998, then a Liberian registered oil tanker owned by Normar Spirit of Denmark, Santana III was detained in Belfast for 15 days with 69 deficiencies. At that time, she was rated "dangerously unsafe" by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Last week The Malta Business Weekly reported that Malta topped the list of detained ships in Britain by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

In September that year, a US Coast Guard inspection in Houston revealed 51 deficiencies, many of which were hull-related. Earlier this month, the Santana III was held in Bordeaux, where serious deficiencies including corrosion were found. She was also arrested by commercial creditors, while the International Transport Workers' Federation lodged a claim on behalf of the unpaid predominantly Ukrainian crew.

The Santana III was released to proceed to Falmouth, her elected port of repair. But she broke down outside Brest, where the French authorities reboarded her. Numerous additional deficiencies were found, including further corrosion. After temporary repairs, the Santana III was allowed to undertake a single voyage to Falmouth, as a port of repair, under tug escort. Following arrival on Monday evening and detention on Tuesday, she is to be laid up on the River Fal.

With regards to the arrest of the other Maltese-registered ship Maria S, Lloyd's List reported that the 33,980 dwt, 1974 built ship arrived in Augusta, Sicily, 10 days ago on her way from India to the Netherlands carrying molasses.

During a flag state inspection carried out on the

Maria S last week, Malta Maritime Authority officials found a number of deficiencies, including bunker contamination in the fore peak ballast tank and poor maintenance.

When contacted, the owner of the ship Giuseppe Savarese said he believed the problems were not serious.

The Malta Maritime Authority is carrying out inspection on a large number of tankers following the Erika casualty. The Maria S was not a particular target, said Lloyd's List.

All Savarese's vessels are registered in Malta and classed by Rina. The remaining ships owned by Savarese are undergoing extensive repairs.