Master of troubled cargo ship APL England faces court over containers lost overboard

The master of a container ship that lost about 50 containers overboard has faced a Queensland court over allegations of poor cargo loading.

THE master of a container ship that lost about 50 containers overboard has faced a Queensland court over allegations of poor cargo loading.

Mohamad Zulkhaili Bin Alias’s matter was briefly mentioned in Wynnum Magistrates Court on Monday.

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Workers from logistics company QUBE inspect toppled containers on board the Singapore-flagged container ship APL England at the Port of Brisbane. (AAP Image/Dan Peled)

He is charged with two offences relating to the discharge of garbage into the sea and failing to ensure a vessel is operated so as not to cause pollution or damage to the Australian marine environment.

Mr Alias’ solicitor Sophie Harburg from Thynne Macartney told the court both parties were seeking a transfer to the Brisbane Magistrates Court.

Ms Harburg said although the vessel was based at the nearby Port of Brisbane, the location where the incident happened was outside of any magistrate’s jurisdiction.

The container ship APL England arrives at the Port of Brisbane. Pic Peter Wallis

The Singapore-flagged ship was en route to Melbourne from China when rough seas caused some 50 shipping containers to topple overboard off the coast of Sydney on Sunday, May 24.

Prosecutor P Huygens from the Commonwealth DPP agreed to the transfer.

Both parties told the court they were seeking a fast resolution due to Mr Alias’ bail conditions where he had to remain on the vessel.

Wynnum Magistrate Zac Sarra agreed to transfer Mr Alias’ case to June 12 at the Brisbane Magistrates Court.

Mr Alias remains on bail

Workers salvaged the remains of five shipping containers that had washed up on Birdie Beach on the Central Coast of NSW, Thursday, May 28, 2020. The APL England cargo ship lost about 40 shipping containers in rough seas off the NSW coast. (AAP Image/Darren Pateman)