Cargo Ship Loses Rudder, Narrowly Avoids Grounding Near Tauranga

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Mfame Editor
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  • Rudder Failure Exposes Gaps in Maintenance Oversight.
  • Weak Welds Blamed for Cargo Ship Rudder Detachment.
  • TAIC Urges Stronger Global Standards After Ship Rudder Falls Off.

A cargo ship had a close call with disaster when its rudder came loose during navigation, sparking demands for tighter regulations and improved quality checks on safety-critical parts. New Zealand’s Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has shared its findings and recommendations after looking into the incident, reports Marine Link.

Incident Overview: Loss of Steering Control

On July 24, 2023, the cargo ship Achilles Bulker was leaving Tauranga, New Zealand, with a pilot on board. Just after it cleared the harbour, the vessel unexpectedly veered off course. As the crew and pilots worked to regain control, the rudder detached, leaving the ship adrift and unable to steer.

Thanks to the quick thinking of the crew and pilots, who deployed both anchors, they managed to prevent the ship from running aground.

Root Cause: Maintenance Flaws and Fatigue Failure

The investigation revealed that during maintenance in dry dock in 2021, the rudder pintle—a crucial hinge pin for the rudder- was reinstalled with weak, porous welds. These welds couldn’t withstand normal vibrations, leading to the retaining nut loosening. Eventually, the pintle fell out without anyone noticing.

With the pintle gone, the bottom of the rudder became unstable, putting too much stress on the top coupling plate (palm) that connects to the rudder stock. This led to fatigue cracks that worsened until the rudder palm broke on both sides, causing the entire rudder to detach.

TAIC Recommendations

  1. To the Shipyard: Establish robust quality assurance processes for installing rudder pintles. TAIC has notified China’s Maritime Safety Administration about this issue.
  2. To Maritime NZ: Work with the IMO to advocate for stricter global standards regarding the installation, maintenance, and repair of rudder systems.

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Source: Marine Link