A gas tanker, the Gaschem Homer, experienced a two-minute loss of propulsion shortly after departing the Port of Brisbane on March 15, 2025. The incident occurred due to improper configuration of two of its three electrical generators, leading to a total electrical blackout while the vessel was being maneuvered by a harbour pilot. Fortunately, the pilot utilized an assisting tug to maintain the ship within the shipping channel until power was restored.
An investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) revealed that the generators had been mistakenly left in manual mode during departure. This misconfiguration caused an overload when the bow thruster was engaged, resulting in the blackout. Thankfully, there were no injuries or damage reported.
The ATSB’s findings highlighted deficiencies in the Gaschem Homer’s safety management system, particularly regarding the absence of specific controls to mitigate the risk of power failures. The existing operational procedures were too generic, leading the crew to rely on memory for critical tasks, increasing the chance of oversight.
In response, the ship’s management has conducted a risk assessment and implemented additional safety measures. These include updated guidelines for blackout prevention, revised checklists, and targeted training for engineers on power management to enhance operational safety.
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