At about 0400 on the 5 January 2004, the Malaysian flag bulk carrier Bunga Orkid Tiga and the Australian fishing vessel Stella VII collided near Creech Reef in the Great Barrier Reef. This was the twenty-sixth collision between a trading ship and an Australian fishing vessel since April 1994.

Neither vessel was keeping a proper visual lookout in the time leading up to the collision. This report, as do previous ATSB reports regarding collisions, emphasises the need for all vessels to maintain a proper lookout at all times.