Crew injury in the engine room of RTM Weipa, off Gove, Northern Territory, on 23 June 2025

Summary

The ATSB is investigating an incident in which a crewmember was injured in the engine room of the bulk carrier, RTM Weipa, off Gove, Northern Territory, on 23 June 2025.

At about 0900 local time, while the ship was at anchor, the crew were carrying out routine maintenance work on the main engine, when the traversing motor of the overhead gantry crane detached from its mounting and fell near a crewmember, resulting in minor injuries.

The ATSB has completed the evidence collection and analysis phases of the investigation and is drafting the final report.

In the course of the investigation, the ATSB has identified potential limitations in risk controls that are considered likely to have potentially contributed to the occurrence. Examination of these factors represent a significant increase in the scope of this investigation, and it has been upgraded from Short to Defined as a result (the ATSB's different levels of investigation are detailed here).

The final report will be published at the conclusion of the investigation. Should a critical safety issue be identified at any time during the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify the operators of the ship and the port, and other relevant parties so that appropriate and timely safety action can be taken.