Published by The Maritime Executive

Published by The Maritime Executive

Published by The Maritime Executive

Published by The Lowy Interpreter

Published Mar 24, 2019 1:45 AM by The Maritime Executive

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has released its investigation into the contact with wharf by livestock carrier Angus Express at the port of Broome, Western Australia, saying it highlights the challenging situations that marine pilots may encounter, and why it is important that local knowledge is captured and shared.

On April 20, 2018, the Angus Express had just completed a voyage from Singapore and was expected to load cattle. As the vessel came into berth, the weight of the ship against the forward Yokohama fender forced it to pass under the fender posts, which resulted in the ship’s bow moving towards the wharf. Shortly after, an overhanging scupper protrusion made contact with the fender post.

The pilot thought that the ship had pivoted on the Yokohama fender and instructed the tug to push forward again, resulting in the forward Yokohama fender once again passing underneath the fender posts. The ship’s bow again moved towards the wharf, and the scupper protrusion again made contact with the fender post. The harbor master subsequently attended and found minor damage to the ship’s superstructure.

The ATSB investigation found that the fender posts were shorter than others in the port and at certain tide heights, could be forced down by a ship. A former pilot at the port advised that they had been aware of this, but that knowledge had never been documented or shared. 

As a result of this occurrence, the Kimberley Ports Authority has implemented guidelines for berthing and being alongside when using Yokohama-style fenders at times of limiting low water levels. Also, harbor masters and pilots are to conduct risk assessments for circumstances such as tug shortages, vessel maneuvering issues and tidal levels.

The safety message from the accident is the importance of capturing and sharing lessons learned from experience. Marine pilots, in particular, may encounter operational parameters outside normal limits. Capturing the lessons through proper reporting process and sharing information through training and awareness can help to reduce risk and avoid future occurrences.

The report is available here.

Published Oct 14, 2022 11:00 PM by The Maritime Executive

Next month, Royal Caribbean will open its new $125 million ultra-modern cruise terminal at the port of Galveston, Texas, which is designed to be the world’s first LEED-certified "zero energy facility." The cruise line said that the new Galveston terminal will be the first to generate 100 percent of its needed energy through on-site solar panels. The 161,334-square-foot state-of-the-art terminal expands Royal Caribbean’s presence in the port, increasing the cruise line’s ability to accommodate up to 630,000 guests per year,...

Published Oct 14, 2022 10:21 PM by The Maritime Executive

With delays and uncertainties engulfing the Australia–UK–US submarine partnership (AUKUS) program, the Australian government has decided to invest in the capabilities of its existing submarines, whose lifespan has repeatedly been extended. The government said it will invest $202 million in a five-year contract with Raytheon Australia to sustain and upgrade the capabilities of the Royal Australian Navy’s fleet of Collins class submarines. The subs, which were expected to be retired around 2026, have seen their lifespan extended to the 2030s....

Published Oct 14, 2022 9:25 PM by The Maritime Executive

The organizers of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar have chartered in a third cruise ship to provide another 1,000-plus hotel rooms during the month-long event.  An estimated 1.2 million people will descend on the small Mideast nation for the games beginning November 20, and their needs will outstrip the 31,000-room hotel capacity in the capital of Doha. Qatari organizers are taking a variety of measures to make sure that attendees have somewhere to stay, including containerized "cabins" on the...

Published Oct 14, 2022 8:39 PM by The Lowy Interpreter

[By Rodger Shanahan] There has been little to cheer about of late in terms of positive developments towards peace in the Middle East. But this week, the news came from an unexpected source – relations between Lebanon and Israel. An agreement demarcating a maritime boundary between the two countries allows for the exploitation of gas and oil fields below the waters of the Mediterranean. A decade in the making, this important agreement, when ratified, holds the potential to lead Lebanon out of its economic...

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