It is almost 120 meters long, has a displacement of over 8 thousand tons and carries 39 years of navigation on its shoulders. But it is not its age that is worrying: it is its general condition that makes you tremble. The Halim M, a merchant ship flying the Palau flag, was stopped yesterday by the Coast Guard in the Porto Canale of Cagliari for serious irregularities: the ship is not safe, neither for the crew nor for the environment.

The administrative detention order was issued by the Port State Control Unit of the Coast Guard after an inspection: 42 non-conformities were detected, of which 24 were so serious as to justify the immediate blocking of departure. Among the critical issues: the crew is not prepared to deal with emergencies, the fire-fighting systems are inadequate and the overall management of on-board safety is defined as "seriously deficient".

Having arrived in Cagliari on April 13 for commercial operations, the Halim M now remains anchored and under surveillance. It will be able to leave the port only when all violations are remedied and the ship passes a new inspection.

This is not an isolated case. Since the beginning of the year, maritime authorities have inspected 35 foreign ships in the Cagliari port alone : five were stopped for serious violations, while 26 others were found to have less significant irregularities.

A worrying snapshot of naval traffic in which “sub-standard ships” – as those that do not comply with international standards are defined – continue to sail the seas, putting human lives and the environment at risk.

(Unioneonline/Fr.Me.)