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The Advertiser
15-05-2025
- General
- The Advertiser
Ship's near stranding exposes emergency response flaws
A ship's anchors prevented a "catastrophic stranding" on a rocky shore in heavy weather, a safety investigation has found, faulting the ship's operator, maritime agencies, a port authority and a salvage company. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau's final report into the July 2022 incident found the bulk carrier Portland Bay left Port Kembla, south of Sydney, but remained near the coast instead of safely clearing it. Multiple engine problems as the Hong Kong-flagged vessel pitched and rolled reduced speed to a minimum, "effectively disabling the ship in bad weather" and endangering the crew. The vessel was carrying 950 tonnes of heavy fuel oil, raising concerns a grounding would have dire environmental consequences. When the master reported to the ship's operators, Pacific Basin Shipping, he was not advised about notifying authorities. This led to a delay in reporting the situation to the Port Authority of NSW's vessel traffic service, compounded by the service not promptly forwarding the master's report to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. "The various delays resulted in delaying the tug assistance requested and the master had to deploy both anchors to prevent stranding," said the report, released on Thursday, the bureau's most comprehensive marine investigation in nearly two decades. Rescue helicopters were sent to the ship but had to abandon a plan to winch the crew to safety due to the ship's instability. Three tugs began towing the carrier away from the coast but one towline parted in rough seas, causing the vessel to again drift towards the shore, prompting the master to again deploy anchors. ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said the anchors, while not designed to hold the ship in such severe conditions, "prevented a catastrophic stranding on the rocky shore". An emergency towage vessel was sent from Newcastle and the vessel was towed into Port Botany for repairs on July 6. The ATSB report identified several emergency response issues, including that AMSA and port authority procedures were "not effectively implemented". It also found the co-ordination of critical elements of the emergency response between the port authority, Transport for NSW and AMSA were inadequate and inconsistent with the National Plan for Maritime Environmental Emergencies. "These safety issues prolonged the emergency and the exposure to stranding, with potentially severe consequences." The investigation also found United Salvage was limited in its ability to provide the salvage services required as it did not operate towage vessels, so was reliant on towage providers. Pacific Basin Shipping has revised its crisis management procedures to include at least one exercise each year and to stress early reporting of incidents AMSA has reviewed emergency procedures and increased staffing and training. The ATSB recommended AMSA, the NSW port authority and maritime arm of Transport for NSW take further action on issues raised in the report. "Three legislated bodies had a defined role within relevant legislation and state and national plans to respond to this emergency, but each agency did not believe that the response necessarily fell within their responsibility," Mr Mitchell said. The report noted failures in emergency response were usually associated with actions that were "too little, too late". "Australia's National Plan reiterates the principle of over‑escalation in an initial response as it is more effective to scale down than up." A ship's anchors prevented a "catastrophic stranding" on a rocky shore in heavy weather, a safety investigation has found, faulting the ship's operator, maritime agencies, a port authority and a salvage company. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau's final report into the July 2022 incident found the bulk carrier Portland Bay left Port Kembla, south of Sydney, but remained near the coast instead of safely clearing it. Multiple engine problems as the Hong Kong-flagged vessel pitched and rolled reduced speed to a minimum, "effectively disabling the ship in bad weather" and endangering the crew. The vessel was carrying 950 tonnes of heavy fuel oil, raising concerns a grounding would have dire environmental consequences. When the master reported to the ship's operators, Pacific Basin Shipping, he was not advised about notifying authorities. This led to a delay in reporting the situation to the Port Authority of NSW's vessel traffic service, compounded by the service not promptly forwarding the master's report to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. "The various delays resulted in delaying the tug assistance requested and the master had to deploy both anchors to prevent stranding," said the report, released on Thursday, the bureau's most comprehensive marine investigation in nearly two decades. Rescue helicopters were sent to the ship but had to abandon a plan to winch the crew to safety due to the ship's instability. Three tugs began towing the carrier away from the coast but one towline parted in rough seas, causing the vessel to again drift towards the shore, prompting the master to again deploy anchors. ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said the anchors, while not designed to hold the ship in such severe conditions, "prevented a catastrophic stranding on the rocky shore". An emergency towage vessel was sent from Newcastle and the vessel was towed into Port Botany for repairs on July 6. The ATSB report identified several emergency response issues, including that AMSA and port authority procedures were "not effectively implemented". It also found the co-ordination of critical elements of the emergency response between the port authority, Transport for NSW and AMSA were inadequate and inconsistent with the National Plan for Maritime Environmental Emergencies. "These safety issues prolonged the emergency and the exposure to stranding, with potentially severe consequences." The investigation also found United Salvage was limited in its ability to provide the salvage services required as it did not operate towage vessels, so was reliant on towage providers. Pacific Basin Shipping has revised its crisis management procedures to include at least one exercise each year and to stress early reporting of incidents AMSA has reviewed emergency procedures and increased staffing and training. The ATSB recommended AMSA, the NSW port authority and maritime arm of Transport for NSW take further action on issues raised in the report. "Three legislated bodies had a defined role within relevant legislation and state and national plans to respond to this emergency, but each agency did not believe that the response necessarily fell within their responsibility," Mr Mitchell said. The report noted failures in emergency response were usually associated with actions that were "too little, too late". "Australia's National Plan reiterates the principle of over‑escalation in an initial response as it is more effective to scale down than up." A ship's anchors prevented a "catastrophic stranding" on a rocky shore in heavy weather, a safety investigation has found, faulting the ship's operator, maritime agencies, a port authority and a salvage company. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau's final report into the July 2022 incident found the bulk carrier Portland Bay left Port Kembla, south of Sydney, but remained near the coast instead of safely clearing it. Multiple engine problems as the Hong Kong-flagged vessel pitched and rolled reduced speed to a minimum, "effectively disabling the ship in bad weather" and endangering the crew. The vessel was carrying 950 tonnes of heavy fuel oil, raising concerns a grounding would have dire environmental consequences. When the master reported to the ship's operators, Pacific Basin Shipping, he was not advised about notifying authorities. This led to a delay in reporting the situation to the Port Authority of NSW's vessel traffic service, compounded by the service not promptly forwarding the master's report to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. "The various delays resulted in delaying the tug assistance requested and the master had to deploy both anchors to prevent stranding," said the report, released on Thursday, the bureau's most comprehensive marine investigation in nearly two decades. Rescue helicopters were sent to the ship but had to abandon a plan to winch the crew to safety due to the ship's instability. Three tugs began towing the carrier away from the coast but one towline parted in rough seas, causing the vessel to again drift towards the shore, prompting the master to again deploy anchors. ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said the anchors, while not designed to hold the ship in such severe conditions, "prevented a catastrophic stranding on the rocky shore". An emergency towage vessel was sent from Newcastle and the vessel was towed into Port Botany for repairs on July 6. The ATSB report identified several emergency response issues, including that AMSA and port authority procedures were "not effectively implemented". It also found the co-ordination of critical elements of the emergency response between the port authority, Transport for NSW and AMSA were inadequate and inconsistent with the National Plan for Maritime Environmental Emergencies. "These safety issues prolonged the emergency and the exposure to stranding, with potentially severe consequences." The investigation also found United Salvage was limited in its ability to provide the salvage services required as it did not operate towage vessels, so was reliant on towage providers. Pacific Basin Shipping has revised its crisis management procedures to include at least one exercise each year and to stress early reporting of incidents AMSA has reviewed emergency procedures and increased staffing and training. The ATSB recommended AMSA, the NSW port authority and maritime arm of Transport for NSW take further action on issues raised in the report. "Three legislated bodies had a defined role within relevant legislation and state and national plans to respond to this emergency, but each agency did not believe that the response necessarily fell within their responsibility," Mr Mitchell said. The report noted failures in emergency response were usually associated with actions that were "too little, too late". "Australia's National Plan reiterates the principle of over‑escalation in an initial response as it is more effective to scale down than up." A ship's anchors prevented a "catastrophic stranding" on a rocky shore in heavy weather, a safety investigation has found, faulting the ship's operator, maritime agencies, a port authority and a salvage company. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau's final report into the July 2022 incident found the bulk carrier Portland Bay left Port Kembla, south of Sydney, but remained near the coast instead of safely clearing it. Multiple engine problems as the Hong Kong-flagged vessel pitched and rolled reduced speed to a minimum, "effectively disabling the ship in bad weather" and endangering the crew. The vessel was carrying 950 tonnes of heavy fuel oil, raising concerns a grounding would have dire environmental consequences. When the master reported to the ship's operators, Pacific Basin Shipping, he was not advised about notifying authorities. This led to a delay in reporting the situation to the Port Authority of NSW's vessel traffic service, compounded by the service not promptly forwarding the master's report to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. "The various delays resulted in delaying the tug assistance requested and the master had to deploy both anchors to prevent stranding," said the report, released on Thursday, the bureau's most comprehensive marine investigation in nearly two decades. Rescue helicopters were sent to the ship but had to abandon a plan to winch the crew to safety due to the ship's instability. Three tugs began towing the carrier away from the coast but one towline parted in rough seas, causing the vessel to again drift towards the shore, prompting the master to again deploy anchors. ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said the anchors, while not designed to hold the ship in such severe conditions, "prevented a catastrophic stranding on the rocky shore". An emergency towage vessel was sent from Newcastle and the vessel was towed into Port Botany for repairs on July 6. The ATSB report identified several emergency response issues, including that AMSA and port authority procedures were "not effectively implemented". It also found the co-ordination of critical elements of the emergency response between the port authority, Transport for NSW and AMSA were inadequate and inconsistent with the National Plan for Maritime Environmental Emergencies. "These safety issues prolonged the emergency and the exposure to stranding, with potentially severe consequences." The investigation also found United Salvage was limited in its ability to provide the salvage services required as it did not operate towage vessels, so was reliant on towage providers. Pacific Basin Shipping has revised its crisis management procedures to include at least one exercise each year and to stress early reporting of incidents AMSA has reviewed emergency procedures and increased staffing and training. The ATSB recommended AMSA, the NSW port authority and maritime arm of Transport for NSW take further action on issues raised in the report. "Three legislated bodies had a defined role within relevant legislation and state and national plans to respond to this emergency, but each agency did not believe that the response necessarily fell within their responsibility," Mr Mitchell said. The report noted failures in emergency response were usually associated with actions that were "too little, too late". "Australia's National Plan reiterates the principle of over‑escalation in an initial response as it is more effective to scale down than up."
Perth Now
15-05-2025
- General
- Perth Now
Ship's near stranding exposes emergency response flaws
A ship's anchors prevented a "catastrophic stranding" on a rocky shore in heavy weather, a safety investigation has found, faulting the ship's operator, maritime agencies, a port authority and a salvage company. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau's final report into the July 2022 incident found the bulk carrier Portland Bay left Port Kembla, south of Sydney, but remained near the coast instead of safely clearing it. Multiple engine problems as the Hong Kong-flagged vessel pitched and rolled reduced speed to a minimum, "effectively disabling the ship in bad weather" and endangering the crew. The vessel was carrying 950 tonnes of heavy fuel oil, raising concerns a grounding would have dire environmental consequences. When the master reported to the ship's operators, Pacific Basin Shipping, he was not advised about notifying authorities. This led to a delay in reporting the situation to the Port Authority of NSW's vessel traffic service, compounded by the service not promptly forwarding the master's report to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. "The various delays resulted in delaying the tug assistance requested and the master had to deploy both anchors to prevent stranding," said the report, released on Thursday, the bureau's most comprehensive marine investigation in nearly two decades. Rescue helicopters were sent to the ship but had to abandon a plan to winch the crew to safety due to the ship's instability. Three tugs began towing the carrier away from the coast but one towline parted in rough seas, causing the vessel to again drift towards the shore, prompting the master to again deploy anchors. ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said the anchors, while not designed to hold the ship in such severe conditions, "prevented a catastrophic stranding on the rocky shore". An emergency towage vessel was sent from Newcastle and the vessel was towed into Port Botany for repairs on July 6. The ATSB report identified several emergency response issues, including that AMSA and port authority procedures were "not effectively implemented". It also found the co-ordination of critical elements of the emergency response between the port authority, Transport for NSW and AMSA were inadequate and inconsistent with the National Plan for Maritime Environmental Emergencies. "These safety issues prolonged the emergency and the exposure to stranding, with potentially severe consequences." The investigation also found United Salvage was limited in its ability to provide the salvage services required as it did not operate towage vessels, so was reliant on towage providers. Pacific Basin Shipping has revised its crisis management procedures to include at least one exercise each year and to stress early reporting of incidents AMSA has reviewed emergency procedures and increased staffing and training. The ATSB recommended AMSA, the NSW port authority and maritime arm of Transport for NSW take further action on issues raised in the report. "Three legislated bodies had a defined role within relevant legislation and state and national plans to respond to this emergency, but each agency did not believe that the response necessarily fell within their responsibility," Mr Mitchell said. The report noted failures in emergency response were usually associated with actions that were "too little, too late". "Australia's National Plan reiterates the principle of over‑escalation in an initial response as it is more effective to scale down than up."
Hans India
01-05-2025
- General
- Hans India
Fuel mismanagement, oversight failures lead to 2023 aircraft crash in Australia: Report
Canberra: Fuel mismanagement and failures in operational oversight and regulatory supervision have been found following a crash of a small aircraft in Western Australia in 2023, a government report said. The crash significantly damaged the aircraft and raised renewed concerns about safety culture and regulatory vigilance in general aviation, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said on Wednesday in its investigation report. The Broome Aviation-operated Cessna 310R was en route from Broome to Turkey Creek, a distance of 846 km, with a planned fuel stop in Derby in Western Australia, on June 20, 2023, the report said. The investigation revealed the pilot miscalculated fuel requirements after failing to factor in forecast winds and not fully utilising the auxiliary tanks. The pilot also did not monitor fuel levels properly during the flight, leading to fuel exhaustion in the main tanks, it said. The twin-engine aircraft was forced to land on a highway near Derby Airport, colliding with a tree. The pilot, who was not wearing the available upper torso restraint, suffered head injuries, while the passenger escaped with minor injuries, it added. ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said the accident was preventable and highlighted systemic failings, Xinhua news agency reported. He noted the preventable nature of fuel mismanagement, a regular contributing factor in aviation accidents. "Pilots are responsible for ensuring there is sufficient fuel prior to flight, and that they are familiar with their aircraft's fuel system," he said. "In this case, the ATSB found the pilot's lack of understanding of the fuel system was not detected by the operator due to a lack of consolidation training, and limited to no operational oversight." In the eight months prior to this accident, the operator transitioned its pilots to the Cessna 310, which has a relatively complex fuel system, with limited supervision, guidance and support. Mitchell said it was best practice for operators to provide its pilots the opportunity for skill consolidation during and following the initial training on a new aircraft type. "The investigation also found that current and former Broome Aviation pilots reported experiencing pressure not to report aircraft defects on maintenance releases, and pilots experienced or observed pressure from management to fly aircraft they considered unsafe," he added. "A reporting culture -- where employees are comfortable to report all safety concerns and maintenance issues -- is a safe culture."
ABC News
30-04-2025
- General
- ABC News
ATSB finds pilot pressure, maintenance issues factors in plane's Derby Highway crash
Australia's air safety watchdog has found fuel mismanagement by a pilot and a series of maintenance oversights contributed to a light plane's crash landing on a highway in far-north Western Australia. The Cessna 310, operated by charter company Broome Aviation, was en route to Derby, 2,200 kilometres north of Perth, from Warmun, 600km east of the town, when it landed heavily on Derby Highway, 5km from the town's airport. Startled motorists pulled over to avoid the plane and provided first aid to the seriously injured pilot and an unscathed passenger. The pilot was later The pilot broke every bone in their face after hitting the dashboard of the plane and the report noted they were not wearing an upper-torso restraint. Australian Transport Safety Bureau chief commissioner Angus Mitchell described it as a "complex investigation." "We did find some shortcomings in the training and the consolidation of pilots, but more worrying we found organisational pressures to not report maintenance," Mr Mitchell said. " There were a number of things stacked against the pilot on this day. " ATSB found the fuel gauges were inaccurate and defects were not rectified. ( ABC News: Andy Seabourne ) 'Oppressive culture' The bureau upgraded the scope of its investigation after its initial probe found other pilots at Broome Aviation raised concerns about maintenance, safety and an "oppressive culture." "There was a number of maintenance issues that we found, and that went to one of our findings around the operator themselves not reporting aircraft defects on maintenance releases," Mr Mitchell said. "And also the pressure that pilots had to keep flying the aircraft that they at times considered unsafe." The charter plane was close to Derby Airport. ( ABC Kimberley: Andrew Seabourne ) The ATSB found the plane's fuel gauges were not indicating accurately and that fuel amounts in different tanks were not calculated correctly leading to "discrepancies". The report found Broome Aviation's operations manual did not include a procedure for recording in-flight fuel calculations, leading pilots to adopt varying methods for fuel monitoring. "All the underlying things that should be in place to keep operations like this safe — they weren't in place," Mr Mitchell said. He said the operator had addressed the issues raised by ATSB and modified their processes as a result. Broome Aviation has been contacted for comment. ABC Kimberley — local news in your inbox Get our local newsletter, delivered free each Tuesday Your information is being handled in accordance with the Email address Subscribe
