D17/1999
17 December 1999
A failure to observe the International Regulations for Preventing Collision at Sea, contributed to the collision between two vessels off Noosa Head on 2 February 1999, according to the report of the investigation into the accident released by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau today.
The report said the failure was on the part of the officers on the bridge of the Taiwan flag bulk carrier Cemtex Central and the crew of the Australian fishing boat Tina.
The collision occurred as Cemtex General cleared a bank of heavy rain about 30 miles east of Noosa Head. The rain seriously reduced the effectiveness of the ship's radar.
The report concludes that the ship was going too fast in the conditions of reduced visibility, the lookout was inadequate and there was a general disregard for the Collision Regulations, with too great a reliance placed on radar navigation without an appreciation of its limitations.
The fishing vessel was anchored in the open sea in the shipping lanes between Brisbane and NSW ports and Asia. All three crew were asleep until moments before the collision occurred. The crew of Tina also failed to observe their obligations under the Collision Regulations. No lookout was kept and no proper signal was shown to indicate the vessel was at anchor.
Fortunately the damage to Tina was minor, but the incident could so easily have resulted in much more serious consequences and the death of the crew, the report said.
The report summarises eleven incidents of collision between fishing vessels and trading ships in Australian waters and stresses the mutual obligation that all vessels at sea have to properly understand and observe the International Collision Regulations.
Copies of the report can be obtained from:
Marine Incident Investigation Unit
GPO Box 594
Canberra ACT 2601
(02) 6274 6088.
Reports may be downloaded from: www.atsb.gov.au/marine/index.aspx
Media Contact:
Brett Bayly: (02) 6274 7522
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