On 18 November 2001, a ballast tank of the Hong Kong-registered bulk carrier Nego Kim exploded killing eight crew members. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation has found that the explosion occurred when volatile paint fumes inside the inadequately ventilated tank were ignited. The ATSB released the results of its investigation today. The Report states: The explosion occurred at 4.40pm on Sunday 18 November 2001, when the ship was anchored inside Dampier port limits waiting to load a cargo of…

Air Safety Investigation Report 200100348 Fact Sheet

At 3.30pm today, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau will release its final investigation Report on the fatal aircraft crash near Newman, WA. On 26 January 2001, a Cessna 310R operated by the Western Australian Police Air Support Unit crashed at night near Newman aerodrome. The four occupants sustained fatal injuries. Impact forces destroyed the aircraft. Who: ALAN STRAY (ATSB Deputy Director of Air Safety Investigation)When: 3.30pm (Eastern Standard Time)Where: ATSB Headquarters, 15 Mort Street, Canberra The…

A report released today by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has found that limited visibility in heavy rain was a significant factor in a collision involving the Australian fishing vessel Chinderah Star and the Liberian flag bulk carrier Silver Bin. The collision occurred at 1209 local time on 25 March 2000, 0.6 nautical miles west of Chapman Island in the inner route of Queensland's Great Barrier Reef. Approximately 24 minutes before the collision, Chinderah Star was heading north when its skipper identified Silver Bin, 8.6 nautical miles to…

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) will release its final Report into the systemic factors behind the groundings of Ansett B767 aircraft, tomorrow. Several of Ansett's B767 aircraft were grounded in December 2000 and again in April 2001. While Ansett has ceased flying, the ATSB continued its investigation because of the importance of the issues involved for the safety of 'Class A' aircraft around the world. Executive Director Kym Bills will speak to the media at 10.30am tomorrow, at the ATSB headquarters at…

The final report into the investigation of the grounding of the Wyuna in the Tamar River, Tasmania on 19 October 2000, has concluded that crew fatigue may have been a contributing factor. The report was released today by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. The Australian training vessel had grounded on Shear Rock after the master gave a series of incorrect course orders to a student under training. The vessel was carried northward by the tide and grounded again on Middle Bank before the master was able to…

The final Report on the Beech Super King Air 200 VH-SKC accident, in which all eight occupants died when a charter flight from Perth on 4 September 2000 overflew Leonora and then the NT before crashing near Burketown QLD, was released today by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. ATSB Executive Director, Kym Bills, made the following statement: "Based on the available evidence, including voice analysis of air traffic control tapes, the investigation concluded that the pilot and passengers were probably…

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation into a reported fire in the cargo hold of British Airways Flight 16 is under way. An ATSB engineer visited the incident site on Saturday night, 10 August. Aircraft components are being transported to the ATSB laboratory in Canberra for analysis. The ATSB anticipates there will be a preliminary report into the incident issued in 21 days. However, it may take several months for the investigation to be completed. The ATSB…

The ATSB has found that a lack of communication, hazard awareness and job safety analysis led to a seaman on board the Panamanian registered container ship MSC Sonia being severely burned by steam. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation also found that the placement of the boiler safety valve vent pipe, and the direction in which it exhausted, meant that any personnel on the funnel casing top platform were vulnerable when a boiler safety valve operated. At about 0900 on 10 April 2007, a surveyor arrived on board MSC Sonia to carry out a scheduled boiler survey while the ship was…

An ATSB report released today shows that the average age of many aircraft in Australia is increasing but that this should not reduce safety if quality maintenance systems are in place. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) report found that the average age of Australia's turbofan aircraft used in regular passenger transport (RPT) is very low. The fleet of aircraft in the 50,000 kg to 100,000 kg category had an average age of just 6 years by the end of 2005. That was 2 years lower than the average age of this…