On May 16, 2024, the MV Spanaco Simplicity was detained for the second time this year by the PSC in the port of Szczecin.
The first detaintion was issued on February 1, 2024 in the port of Waterford.
If a ship is detained three times in one year, it loses its flag. After that, the ship will no longer be accepted by any flag classified as a so-called white flag. Then only substandard flags such as Panama, Belize, Cook Island and similar grey and black flags remain for the ship. But with these flags the ship cannot be insured or can only be insured at great expense and which reputable charter company uses such ships?
In plain language, a ship can no longer be used in Europe after the third detaineeship in one year.
That means one more detaintion for MV Spanaco Simplicity until end of this year and the vessel is not usable anymore....
What happened to the Spanaco Simplicity?
The ship was from February 19th. until April 19, 2024 in Delfzijl where the main engine and shaft generator were overhauled.
On May 16, 2024 the ship reached the port of Szczecin where she was inspected by the PSC. The ship was detained due to the following deficiencies:
1. Vessel is provided with two inflatable liferafts requiring service 30 months from ,latest onshore inspection date. Onboard inspection is required with intervals no longer than 12 months from the latest
onshore service or on board inspection date. Date of latest onshore inspection October 28, 2022. No any evidence about inspections onboard. Liferafts test were carried out during PSC inspection with faulty result (humidity level unacceptable).
2. Oily water separator 3-way valve- inoperative (air leakage).
3. Auxillary Engine fuel leakage alarm inoperative.
As mentioned before, the ship was in the shipyard for 2 months and then the ship was detained a short time later because the liferafts were not maintained, the OWS was not working properly and the fuel alarm on the auxiliary diesel was faulty?
How can something like this happen???
The question is very easy to answer! The entire crew had no connection to the profession of a seaman and to the ship as a workplace.
In the 2 months that the ship was in the shipyard, the crew did not manage to get the ship into a system-compliant condition.
The owners and charterers of the ship understandably complained to HLB as manager that it was not able to look after the ship in such a way that there was no PSC detaintion and deficiency.
But, dear colleagues, it is not the superintendents and DPAs who sail the ship from A to B. It is you! You are the sailors on board! That is what you are paid for. And seriously, the pay on an HLB ship is not the worst. And what about the equipment? If you need something, you order it and you get it. And then you always have enough cash on board on every HLB ship with which you can buy urgent stores and spares yourself as far as possible.
I can confirm that this comfort is not standard on every shipping company.
So dear colleagues on board, if you want the HLB ships to stay like this in the coming years, then be a part of the team!
Do your daily work on board with your head, your hands, but above all, do it with your heart!
Show others with our ships that we can do it. Show everyone that we are proud sailors who understand their job and do it with passion!
If you would like to contribute something else, leave us a comment!
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