The Australian Maritime Safety Authority says it has successfully
prosecuted the master and owners of the Hong Kong-flagged bulk carrier ANL Kardinia for illegally dumping garbage in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
One Armania Shipping Ltd and the master of ANL Kardinia were
found guilty on July 20 in the Townsville Magistrates Court on one
charge each of illegally disposing of garbage under the Protection of
the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Act 1983.
The illegal discharge took place on February 13, 2015 and was
detected by an AMSA Inspector during a routine Port State Control
inspection in Brisbane on February 16, 2015.
The AMSA Inspector examined ANL Kardinia’s Garbage Record
Book and discovered an entry for a discharge of food waste within the
prohibited discharge area of the Great Barrier Reef.
One Armania Shipping Ltd was fined $4,000 and the master was fined $300 for the illegal discharge.
AMSA Chief Executive Officer Mick Kinley said masters and owners of
vessels should be warned that the illegal discharge of ships’ waste
would not be tolerated in Australian waters.
“Australia has a robust Port State Control regime, designed to ensure
ship owners and their masters are following the rules and regulations
to prevent marine areas from being polluted,” said Kinley.
“These prosecutions are a reminder to the shipping community if they
flout the regulations they can be caught and prosecuted,” he added.