Bulk Carrier Somnium Australis Detained in Port Walcott

The bulk carrier SOMNIUM AUSTRALIS (IMO 9638886) was detained by Port State Control authorities following an inspection at Port Walcott, WA, on 17 Feb 2026. The inspection was conducted under the Indian MoU regional agreement, which oversees port state control compliance in the Indian Ocean region. Inspectors recorded a total of 19 deficiencies aboard the vessel, of which one was classified as detainable, prompting authorities to hold the ship in port until the issue is rectified. The vessel operates under the Liberian flag and is managed by Santoku Senpaku Co Ltd (Santoku Senpaku KK), the company responsible for its International Safety Management (ISM) compliance. Port state control detentions occur when inspectors identify deficiencies serious enough to pose a risk to the safety of the vessel, its crew, or the environment, requiring corrective action before the ship is permitted to resume operations. Such detentions are logged and may affect the vessel's and operator's inspection history under the relevant MoU framework. Further details regarding the specific nature of the detainable deficiency and the timeline for the vessel's release have not been disclosed. The detention adds to the record of inspections conducted under the Indian MoU, which monitors vessel compliance with international maritime safety standards across member ports in the region.