STRATEGIC SYNERGY

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V'essel found substandard on maiden voyage

The Coast Guard detained the "Strategic Synergy" on May 13, 2014, requiring the vessel to remain in Portland until numerous safety violations have been corrected by the ship’s crew. The vessel intended to load grain in Portland and was to depart for Ecuador after the safety violations have been met. Port State Control Officers from the Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit in Portland discovered the discrepancies during a routine inspection of the newly constructed Singapore-flagged vessel. The "Strategic Synergy"’s voyage to the United States was its maiden voyage after completing construction in China on Apr 23, 2014. Several safety discrepancies were related to the "Strategic Synergy"’s rescue boat, which failed to start after multiple attempts. The vessel’s crew also hadn’t completed any required scheduled inspections or maintenance on the rescue boat since the vessel’s departure from China. The vessel’s steering pump lost power and became inoperable during the Port State Control Officer’s operational test of its steering system, rendering the vessel incapable of safely maneuvering. The combined risks posed by the safety discrepancies made the vessel substandard with respect to U.S. and international conventions. The vessel thus was unsafe to proceed to sea. The Coast Guard inspectors were working with the "Strategic Synergy"’s flag state, vessel crew, owner, and managing company to make repairs to the vessel prior to it loading cargo and departing port. It was ordered to remain at berth in Portland until the violations have been corrected.