An engine failure in a bulk carrier just north of Newcastle, NSW, is under investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).
The bureau says the Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier, Basic Victory, lost its main engine about 33km north of Newcastle on July 30.
“At about 8am local time, (the) Basic Victory was drifting about 20 (nautical) miles (37 kilometres) off the Port of Newcastle, waiting to berth there, when its main engine failed,” the bureau says in a report summary available online.
“The ship drifted towards the coastline north of Newcastle and by about (5.30pm) had closed to within three miles (5.5km) to the nearest land.”
The bureau says that it was then that the ship’s master reported the engine failure to Newcastle vessel traffic service and asked for permission to anchor.
“Shortly afterwards, however, the crew succeeded in restarting the main engine and the ship steamed clear of the coastline,” the bureau report stated.
No injuries were reported and there was no damage, the ATSB noted.
After the ship berthed in Newcastle on August 7, investigators boarded the vessel to collect evidence and interview the crew.
The 43,792-tonne ship sailed early on August 9 and is approaching Japan, according to the maritime tracking website www.veselfinder.com.
“The investigation is continuing; the ATSB will collect further evidence into the propulsion failure and emergency response activities on board the ship and ashore,” it says.
Maritime websites put the Basic Victory at 229 metres long; it was built in 2021.
The ATSB says it expects to finish its investigation by March 2026.
STEERING FAILURE NEAR TASMANIA
The bureau is also looking into the cause of a steering failure for the RORO-passenger ship Matthew Flinders III on its way to Flinders Island last month.
The ATSB says that at about 12.22 am on July 24, the ship’s rudder locked hard to starboard about 8km north of Waterhouse Island.
The crew manually realigned the rudder to midship and regained basic steering using engine power. They then returned to their Bridport anchorage in north-east Tasmania.
No injuries or damage were reported.
The 45m-long vessel carries freight and up to 30 passengers, according to operator Bass Strait Freight’s website.
The ATSB says their investigation should be complete by the end of this year.
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