Classification
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Incident Type | Capsize girding |
| Severity | High |
| Investigation Body | ATSB |
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Vessel Name | Adonis |
| Vessel Names | Adonis; Wolli; Chrysus |
| Vessel Type | Tug |
| Flag State | Australia [AU] |
| IMO Number | |
| Gross Tonnage | 91 |
| LOA (m) | 21.3 |
| Breadth (m) | 6.7 |
| Other Involved Vessels | Wolli, tug; Chrysus, unmanned steel flattop dumb barge |
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Date | 2011-06-11 |
| Region | Australia |
| Location | Gladstone Harbour, Queensland |
| Coordinates | -23.8400, 151.2600 |
| Fatalities | 1 |
| Injuries | |
| Missing | 0 |
| Direct Damage | |
| Economic Damage | |
Key facts
- Adonis was assisting Wolli in moving the unmanned steel flattop dumb barge Chrysus.
- At about 12:46 local time, Adonis moved abaft Chrysus's port bow before the barge had slowed sufficiently.
- The towline forces increased as the tug lost a safe position and entered a classic girting scenario.
- The crew could not release the towline through the towing hook's quick-release arrangement before the capsize.
- Three crew members were recovered from the water; the fourth crew member died and Adonis later sank.
Narrative
On 11 June 2011, Adonis and the tug Wolli were moving the unmanned steel flattop dumb barge Chrysus in Gladstone Harbour, Queensland. Four people were aboard Adonis. The tow had been arranged with Adonis assisting at Chrysus's port bow while Wolli provided the main driving force. As the tow proceeded, the speed remained high enough to leave Adonis with little power in reserve. At about 12:45, Adonis's master reported difficulty maintaining position and prepared to release the towline. The barge's speed was not reduced quickly enough. At about 12:46, Adonis moved abaft Chrysus's port bow and the towline forces increased sharply. The tug began to list to starboard, shipped water over the main deck and swung around the towline. Its crew attempted to release the towline using the towing hook's quick-release arrangement, but the release did not occur before the tug capsized. Adonis struck Wolli during the swing and then rolled over. Three crew members escaped or were recovered from the water. The fourth crew member, an advisor working with the towage, was not recovered alive. Adonis sank between about 14:30 and 15:30 and was later salvaged. The ATSB found that neither tug master recognized the developing classic girting scenario in time, and that the crew could not release the towline before the capsize. It also identified the towline recovery winch and H-bitts arrangement as detrimental to manoeuvrability and stability during towing over the stern. The reviewed report does not provide a normalized non-fatal injury count or an economic-loss estimate.
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|
| 2011-06-11 about 12:25 | Adonis was made fast to Chrysus's port bow for the towage operation. |
| 2011-06-11 about 12:45 | The master reported difficulty maintaining position and prepared to release the towline. |
| 2011-06-11 about 12:46 | Adonis moved abaft Chrysus's port bow, entered a girting scenario and began to list. |
| 2011-06-11 about 12:47 | Adonis capsized after the towline could not be released in time. |
| 2011-06-11 about 14:30-15:30 | Adonis sank in Gladstone Harbour. |
Contributing factors
| Factor | Evidence status | Description |
|---|
| Barge speed not reduced in time | Confirmed finding | Chrysus continued moving while Adonis was losing steerage, increasing the towline forces. |
| Adonis moved abaft the barge's port bow | Confirmed finding | This placed the tug in a classic girting configuration with high athwartships towline forces. |
| Quick-release arrangement did not release the towline in time | Confirmed finding | The crew attempted to operate the towing hook release but could not free the towline before the capsize. |
| Stern towing arrangement reduced manoeuvrability and stability | Confirmed finding | The ATSB found that the towline recovery winch and H-bitts arrangement had a detrimental effect during stern towing. |
Investigation
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigated the casualty in report 286-MO-2011-005. It found that Adonis entered a classic capsize scenario when it moved abaft Chrysus's port bow before the barge had slowed sufficiently. Neither tug master recognized the danger in time, and the crew could not release the towline before the capsize. The report records one fatality and the later sinking of Adonis, but does not provide a normalized injury count or monetary loss estimate.
References
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