The use of a draft voyage planning tool which included waypoint data errors plus an ongoing technical fault with the vessel monitoring and surveillance system for the Great Barrier Reef contributed to a cargo ship’s grounding on a shoal, an ATSB investigation details.
What led to the incident?
The general cargo ship Trinity Bay grounded on Harrington Shoal during its routine voyage, but fortunately, only minor hull damage occurred with no injuries or pollution. The incident was a result of using an unapproved electronic chart system (ECS) for navigation based on erroneous data from a draft passage planning tool. The tool led the ship too close to charted dangers, resulting in the grounding. The investigation report emphasized the importance of using approved navigation systems with automatic route safety-checking functions to prevent such incidents.
Inadequate Passage Planning and Navigation Risks
The investigation revealed that the grounding of Trinity Bay was a result of inadequate passage planning and ineffective monitoring. The new passage plan was not independently verified, and the planned routes were entered into the electronic chart system instead of being annotated on the paper charts, which were the ship’s primary means of navigation. The operator removed the electronic chart system and considered fitting electronic chart display and information systems (ECDIS) as a replacement. The investigation also identified technical faults in the REEFVTS monitoring system, leading to a high number of false alerts and alarms. The incident underscores the importance of thorough passage planning, independent verification, and effective monitoring for safe navigation.
Missed Alarms and System Faults
During the timeframe when Trinity Bay grounded, genuine alarms were received as the ship sailed near Mid Rock and Harrington Shoal. However, the duty operator at the VTS Centre in Townsville did not follow up on these alerts due to an elevated workload and a perception that the ship was not at risk due to frequent transits in the area. The operator received over 80 alerts during their shift, of which at least 42 were false due to a system fault. Maritime Safety Queensland has addressed this issue by implementing a software update to reduce false alarms. Additionally, the reporting area of REEFVTS has been split into two, with separate operators assigned to each area for improved monitoring.
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Source: ATSB
