An execution error by the helmsman of a ship led to a ship
running aground in Sydney Harbour. The Maltese registered general
cargo ship Tauranga Chief ran aground on a mud/sand patch
just south of Bradleys Head light in the middle of Sydney Harbour
at 0339 in the morning of 17 January 2003.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation
report released today states that the ship arrived at Sydney Heads
at 0300 on 17 January 2003 and a harbour pilot boarded. The pilot
took charge of the conduct of the ship and it continued into the
harbour toward its White Bay berth. During a series of wheel orders
when the ship was rounding Bradleys Head, the helmsman put the helm
the wrong way. This was the first step toward the grounding.
The report concludes that the helmsman's error was possibly due
to fatigue effects caused by his long flight from Russia to join
the ship a day and a half earlier. The concentration and reaction
time of the master and officer of the watch, who also joined the
ship on 15 January, may have also been affected.
The fact that the pilot did not order 'midships' before ordering
counter rudder during the turn may also have been a contributing
factor.
The ship was refloated using tugs, the ship's anchor and main
engine after being aground about half an hour. Tauranga
Chief continued to its berth where divers checked the ship's
hull externally for any damage, while it was alongside the wharf
for cargo operations.
Only slight, localised scratching of the underwater paintwork on
the bottom of the hull under the bulbous bow and around the forward
end of the hull was reported after the divers inspection.
No injuries or pollution resulted from the grounding.
The full investigation report is available from the Bureau's website ,
or from the Bureau on request.
Media contact: 1800 020 616