THE AUSTRALIAN Transport Safety Bureau is progressing with its investigation into bulk carrier grounding in Port Hedland, having published an interim report on the incident.

The Liberian-flagged iron ore carrier Hagen Oldendorff ran aground while departing Port Hedland in April last year.

The ATSB has been investigating the incident, and today (7 June) released an interim report shedding light on the events leading up to the grounding.

The interim report details information gathered in the investigation’s evidence collection phase but does not contain analysis or findings. ATSB will publish those details once the investigation concludes.

The interim report notes that Hagen Oldendorff departed its berth in the early hours of 9 April 2022 with a harbour pilot on board.

About 50 minutes after departure, the ship was travelling through the harbour channel at 6.8 knots, with one tug connected to its stern and two others closely following, when the pilot observed the lighting extinguish on the rudder angle indicators.

As the ship had begun to swing to starboard, the pilot ordered port rudder, and the tug connected to the ship’s stern to pull the stern to starboard to counteract the swing.

ATSB said recorded data from the ship’s voyage data recorder shows the ship then began to swing to port at an increasing rate.

To counteract the port swing, the pilot directed the tug to pull the stern to port, but also ordered the ship’s rudder “hard to port”.

The ship’s master followed the direction but queried it after about 30 seconds, according to the ATSB. Subsequently, the pilot asked for the rudder to be put hard to starboard instead.

The rudder angle indicator failure meant the pilot and ship’s crew were unable to ascertain the rudder’s position or whether it was responding to commands.

ATSB said the ship’s rate of turn to port reduced after this change, but it was not enough to prevent it grounding on the edge of the dredged channel.

“Upon coming into contact with the channel’s edge, the ship’s bow swung away from the side of the channel, back to starboard,” ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell said.

“With tugs assisting, the ship was taken out to anchorage for inspection.”

A post-incident inspection found the tracking motor of the bridge’s omnidirectional rudder angle indicator had burnt out, causing a short circuit which tripped the circuit breaker, causing a power outage in all the rudder angle indicators available on the bridge.

ATSB said an underwater hull inspection identified substantial damage, including holes in the ship’s port side and bottom shell plating, and the failure of the transverse bulkhead between the number one and two port double-bottom water ballast tanks, allowing flooding between them.

After temporary repairs, the ship departed on 18 May for its discharge port in China. After discharging, it proceeded to the shipyard in Zhoushan for permanent repairs.

ATSB received initial notifications of the incident in April indicating the Hagen Oldendorff had a steering issue due to faulty rudder indicators.

“It wasn’t until several months later, in late July, that the ATSB was provided with additional information indicating the ship had grounded in the channel, resulting in substantial hull damage,” Mr Mitchell said.

“After obtaining further information from Pilbara Ports Authority, Port Hedland Pilots and the tug providers, ATSB investigators travelled to Port Hedland to interview relevant persons and collect evidence.”

ATSB said the investigation as it continues will include a review of Port Hedland Pilots’ operating procedures, practices and training regime, as well as analysis of pilotage conduct and the effectiveness of bridge resource management.

It will also include a review of Pilbara Ports Authority’s policies and procedures, and a review of towage practices and procedures in Port Hedland.

ATSB said it will also assess Hagen Oldendorff’s steering gear arrangement, controls and indicators, and review the ship’s procedures and emergency readiness.

“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,” Mr Mitchell said.

The interim report notes Pilbara Ports Authority has, since the incident, issued a marine notice requiring that a suitably qualified and competent person stands by in the steering gear room during a ship’s transit of the Port Hedland channel.

“A final report, which will detail analysis and findings, will be released at the conclusion of the investigation,” Mr Mitchell said.