Australian authorities have detained a Panama-flagged bulk service in Brisbane after officers discovered that the crew was untrained within the operation of the ship’s digital navigation tools.

The Brisbane Times reports that the majority service African Alke was detained Thursday after a port state management inspection revealed the bridge officers on board have been unable to function the ship’s ECDIS.

“The vessel was detained because the safety management system had not identified a lack of on board familiarisation training in the use of ECDIS,” an AMSA spokesman instructed the Times.

“The ship’s operators have flown an ECDIS trainer in from Singapore to train the crew,” the spokesman added. “AMSA will release the ship from detention once it is satisfied the crew have been trained to an appropriate standard and can demonstrate the expected level of competency.”

The African Alke was solely not too long ago delivered this previous April and is on a long run constitution with Jebmur Shipping, with Dubai-based MUR Shipping performing as supervisor. The crew is equipped by B&S Enterprise from Japan, the Brisbane Times experiences.

The Maritime Union of Australia says that this simply serves as a primary instance why you shouldn’t substitute high-quality officers with low cost overseas crews on flag of comfort vessels.

Adding to the seriousness of the case, MUA Queensland department secretary Bob Carnegie mentioned that the ship had simply sailed by way of the Great Barrier Reef on its journey to Brisbane from Mackay, Queensland. African Elke’s voyage really originated in Portland, Oregon, the place it made its maiden voyage on the Columbia River in April. 

AIS exhibits the African Alke moored in Brisbane as of Friday.