D14/1999
11 November 1999
The lack of communication between the pilot and officer of the watch aboard the Panama flag cargo ship New Reach was a major contributory factor in the chain of events that lead to its grounding on Heath Reef on 17 May 1999.
This is the finding of a report into the accident released by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau today.
The ship grounded at about 3.20 am on a fine morning with clear visibility. No one was hurt as a result of the grounding and no pollution resulted.
Subsequent examination of the reef showed localised mechanical damage to the coral. The ship refloated under its own power about six hours after the grounding.
In the 50 minutes before the grounding the pilot had slept for a while in the pilot chair. The officer of the watch, who was unaware that the pilot was asleep, plotted the ship's position on two occasions, about 20 minutes apart. Both position plots put the ship about half a mile to the east of the line. About eight minutes before the grounding, the officer alerted the pilot to make a routine radio report to Reef Centre. The officer of the watch did not tell the pilot that the ship was to the east of the planned track.
As he completed the routine radio report the pilot realised that the Heath Reef light beacon was in the wrong relative position. He attempted to alter course to regain the ship's planned track to the west of the reef. In doing so he did not fix the ship's position.
The report concluded that the pilot was suffering a degree of fatigue, which affected his decision making and his ability to use the radar effectively. Also there was a lack of effective communication between the pilot and officer of the watch.
Copies of the report can be obtained from:
Marine Incident Investigation Unit
GPO Box 594
Canberra ACT 2601
Telephone: (02) 6274 6088
Reports may be downloaded from: www.atsb.gov.au/marine/index.aspx.
Media Contact:
Veronika Sain (A/g Director) Public Affairs: (02) 6274 7522
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