Although Hagen Oldendorff’s steering and rudder angle indicator systems complied with the applicable rules and regulations, neither the SOLAS regulations, nor the rules of the ship’s responsible classification society, Lloyd’s Register, mandated protection of the ship's rudder angle indication systems against a single point of failure in power supply, nor did they require installation of audible or visual alerts to notify the bridge team of a power failure affecting the indicators.
Response by the Liberia Maritime Authority
On 6 December 2024, the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA) advised the ATSB that the Liberian Administration was addressing this safety issue with the ship's classification society, Lloyd's Register and, if necessary, with the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS). On 7 December, the LiMA further advised that the issue of a marine advisory was being considered.
ATSB comment
The ATSB acknowledges the Liberia Maritime Authority's advice that the issuance of a marine advisory is being considered and that the safety issue is being addressed with the ship's classification society, Lloyd's Register, and with IACS. However, in the absence of a detailed proposal and/or timeframe for action from Lloyd's Register and IACS or of a proposal to raise this issue with the International Maritime Organization through the appropriate process and best ensure safety action aimed at addressing this issue, the ATSB issues the following safety recommendation.
The ATSB will monitor progress of any safety action undertaken by the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA) to address this safety issue. The ATSB will regularly reassess the status of the safety issue and will publish updates on its website including the response of the LiMA to the ATSB safety recommendation.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau recommends that the Liberia Maritime Authority takes steps to formally raise this safety issue with the International Maritime Organization to seek safety action aimed at addressing the risk associated with a single point of failure in electrical power supply for ship's rudder angle indicators.
The Liberia Maritime Authority has accepted the safety issue as evidenced by safety action taken including the publication of a marine advisory directed to ship owners, operators, recognized organisations, masters and ship’s crews. The Liberian marine advisory recommended that masters and crews be aware of any available alternative means of determining rudder angle on board ships and to ensure that a suitable person was stationed in the steering gear room during navigation in narrow channels. The advisory also recommended that ship owners and operators consider modification of the power distribution system to rudder angle indicators to provide a level of redundancy.
In addition, following discussions with the ship’s classification society, Lloyd’s Register (LR), the safety issue of the failure of the ship's rudder angle indicator systems due to a single point of failure in the electrical power supply is to be raised at the machinery panel of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS).
The ATSB acknowledges the safety action taken by the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA) and will monitor progress of safety action being pursued by Lloyd’s Register through IACS. The ATSB encourages LiMA to progress this issue with the IMO through the appropriate process to best ensure safety action aimed at addressing this issue.
