Investigation Reveals Pilot Error in Bulker Grounding

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has concluded that the grounding of the bulk carrier World Diana at the Port of Bunbury in April 2023 was caused by ineffective pilotage and port deficiencies. The final report highlighted that ineffective bridge resource management and inadequate procedures for larger ships by the port authority were major factors contributing to the incident.

On the morning of April 22, 2023, the World Diana was scheduled to depart the Port of Bunbury with the assistance of a harbor pilot. The ship, fully laden with grain bound for Thailand, needed to maneuver into the inner harbor turning basin. Despite the pilot’s experience at the port, the ship’s bow grounded on the bank during the turn, resulting in minor contact damage to the fore peak tank.

The investigation by ATSB revealed that the turn to depart the inner harbor was initiated earlier than planned, reducing the available room for maneuvering. The report also highlighted the lack of adequate arrival and departure plan procedures for larger ships at the Port of Bunbury, increasing the risk of grounding. Following the incident, the Southern Port Authority has updated its marine pilotage standards and procedures to enhance safety measures at the port.

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