THE AUSTRALIAN Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has released an interim report into its investigation on the allision between container ship Maersk Shekou and STS Leeuwin II in Fremantle last August.
The incident saw training ship STS Leeuwin II demasted and damaged in the collision with the 333-metre Maersk Shekou as the latter was being piloted to its berth in Fremantle’s inner harbour. Two crew members that were onboard STS Leeuwin II were also injured in the incident.
The ATSB’s interim report contains no findings or analysis, but notes the container ship had arrived off Fremantle eight days prior to the accident.
The vessel and its crew waited a week offshore, first due to industrial action at the port, and then due to unfavourable weather, before two harbour pilots boarded just before 0500 on the day of the accident.
“During the initial southerly transit, wind gusts of up to 50 knots from the south-west, almost on the bow of the vessel, were being encountered,” explained ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell.
“Around an hour later, as the ship entered port, three tugs were connected, but with persistent winds now on the starboard quarter, up to 30 degrees of port helm was required to maintain the course.”
The ATSB reported that as the Maersk Shekou’s bow was in line with South Mole, the pilot ordered a course of 083 degrees as the last tug was being made fast on the starboard shoulder and the vessel was making good around 7.5 knots.
It said that despite carrying hard port rudder, the vessel was experiencing a 1degrees/min rate of turn to starboard and struggling to maintain the entry course of 083°.
In a further attempt to bring the vessel’s head to the ordered course, the ATSB reported the pilot ordered full ahead on the main engine.
It said this action combined with the tugs eventually brought the course from 087 degrees to 086 degrees, when the helmsman, without positive oversight of the pilot, then applied 30 degrees of opposite starboard helm to stop the turn and steady on the previously ordered course of 083 degrees.
“Fifteen seconds later, the primary pilot realised they were in trouble with Leeuwin now almost right ahead, and the ship’s heading was no longer continuing to turn to port as expected, and as required to navigate the bend,” Mr Mitchell explained.
The tug on the starboard shoulder then had to abandon its position due to the danger of being crushed between the quay and the closing hull of the Shekou.
“Moments later, the starboard bow collided with the Leeuwin, dismasting it, with the two crew members onboard escaping via the gangway just on impact,” Mr Mitchell said.
“The outermost stack of the containers onboard the Shekou then collided with the roof of the WA Maritime Museum as the vessel’s starboard quarter continued to swing around and contact the wharf.”
The ship was subsequently brought back under control in the inner harbour and conducted to its berth.
The ATSB confirmed it has interviewed the vessel’s master and crew, along with both pilots, tug skippers, and port operational staff.
It has also reviewed relevant communications, bridge recordings, port procedures, weather data, and the vessel’s logs and records.
“As the ATSB investigation continues, it will review and examine pilot and crew actions including bridge resource management, the ship’s safety management system, weather information and port and pilotage procedures for inbound vessels at Fremantle,” the ATSB said.
Mr Mitchell said a final report, with safety analysis and findings, would be released at the conclusion of the investigation.
“Should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties so appropriate and timely safety action can be taken,” he concluded.
The ATSB has produced a video to accompany this interim report’s release, found on YouTube here.
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