ATSB Safety Recommendations After Grounding Incident in Port Hedland

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) recently issued safety recommendations following an incident where an electrical short circuit caused a bulk carrier to run aground in Port Hedland, Western Australia. The Liberian-flagged bulk carrier, Hagen Oldendorff, lost power to its analogue rudder angle indicators during a transit through the channel, leading the bridge team to mistakenly believe the steering had failed. This resulted in an uncontrolled turn and a collision with the channel wall. The ship sustained damage and took on water in two water ballast tanks, although no injuries or pollution were reported.

The ATSB emphasized the importance of eliminating single points of failure in safety-critical operations, such as the loss of power to the ship’s rudder angle indicators due to an electrical short circuit. The investigation found that while the ship’s indicators were compliant with regulations, they were not protected against such failures. The ATSB issued safety recommendations to address this risk to the ship’s flag state administration, classification society, and maritime regulator.

The investigation also highlighted issues with the pilotage practices in Port Hedland, where tugs were released early and best practices were not integrated into guidelines and procedures. In response to the incident, the Pilbara Ports Authority updated its guidelines to incorporate recommended tug retention practices, and the pilotage provider adjusted its procedures to keep tugs fast in relevant channel sections. These measures aim to improve safety and prevent similar incidents in the future.

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