Shipping company Global Radiance fined $27,500 by Geraldton Magistrate for failing to report damaged ship

A multinational shipping company which failed to inform Australian authorities about damage to one of their ships as it sailed along the west coast has been fined $27,500 by a Geraldton Magistrate. On November 24, Global Radiance Ship Management pleaded guilty to failing to report damage to its ship, the Barkly Pearl, which Australian Maritime Safety Authority said threatened lives and the environment. The Barkly Pearl had been sailing from Singapore to Fremantle when a hole was identified on the livestock ship by crew on October 23, 2020, which was causing water to enter the ship. On October 26, the ship’s master, Jose Placecia Rosell failed to notify authorities of the damage when asked if the ship was in working order. Rosell instead notified Global Radiance and on October 31, when close to Fremantle, Global Radiance decided to change course and sail the ship to Indonesia, with plans to repair the ship in Surabaya As the ship continued sailing, the damage worsened and eventually grew to a 3.5 by 1.5 metres wide hole. On November 1, the ship stopped at the Abrolhos Islands where the crew carried out temporary repairs. On November 2, a crew member contacted AMSA to inform the organisation of the damage to the ship, as the crew member feared for their safety and the safety of the rest of the crew. The Barkly Pearl was then transported, via heavy lift ship on the orders of AMSA, to Geraldton Port for repairs. Prosecutor Anthony Willinge said there was a “significant risk” the damage could have lead to an incident which would have cost lives or caused damaged to the environment. Mr WIllinge also told the court Global Radiance had told Rosell not to let the ship enter Australian territorial waters which would have allowed them to avoid legally needing to report to AMSA, but the ship did enter the territorial waters numerous times. Regardless, these requirements also apply to Australia’s exclusive economic zone which the ship was in. Magistrate Angus Hockton, in his decision, agreed the risk was a serious one, but acknowledged Global Radiance and Rosell had complied with investigators and had no previous history of similar offences.. Global Radiance was fined $27,500 out of a maximum of $88,000, while Rosell was fined $5500.