Classification
- Incident Type: Grounded
- Severity: Low
- Region: New Zealand
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Vessel Name | Molly Manx |
| Vessel Type | Bulk Carrier |
| Flag State | Isle of Man [IM] |
| IMO Number | 9425863 |
| Gross Tonnage | 32296 |
| LOA (m) | 189.99 |
| Breadth (m) | 32.26 |
| Crew Size | 20 |
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Date | 2016-08-19 |
| Location | Otago Harbour near the Halfway Islands, Port Chalmers, New Zealand |
| Region | New Zealand |
| Coordinates | -45.8200, 170.6300 |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 0 |
| Missing | |
Key facts
- At about 07:35 on 19 August 2016, Molly Manx grounded while being piloted toward the Ravensbourne fertiliser terminal.
- The bulk carrier entered the narrow channel with two tugs in attendance and deviated to starboard near the Halfway Islands.
- The hull was not breached; damage was limited to bottom paintwork scraped back to bare steel.
- TAIC found that the bridge team and pilot did not share one passage plan and did not monitor the developing track error effectively.
Narrative
On 19 August 2016, Molly Manx arrived off Port Otago after an overnight passage from Lyttelton. An Otago Harbour pilot boarded at about 06:30 and took the con after exchanging information with the master. The 32,296 GT geared bulk carrier, which was 189.99 m long and carried a crew of 20, proceeded toward the Ravensbourne fertiliser terminal with two tugs in attendance. At about 07:35, as the vessel approached the Halfway Islands, it deviated to starboard of the intended track and grounded on a sand bank.
The vessel was refloated by reversing with engine and tug assistance and was subsequently assessed. The hull was not breached and the damage was limited to bottom paintwork scraped back to bare steel. No fatalities or injuries were reported. The Transport Accident Investigation Commission found that the bridge team and pilot were not working from one common passage plan, the ECDIS was not configured correctly for the narrow-channel transit, and the vessel’s progress was not monitored effectively by all available means. The report also identified weaknesses in pilot integration and bridge resource management.
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|
| 2016-08-19 06:30 local (approx.) | An Otago Harbour pilot boarded and took the con after exchanging information with the master. |
| 2016-08-19 07:35 local (approx.) | Molly Manx deviated to starboard near the Halfway Islands and grounded on a sand bank. |
| 2016-08-19 | The vessel was reversed off with engine and tug assistance, assessed, and later continued its voyage. |
Contributing factors
| Factor | Evidence status | Description |
|---|
| Lack of a common passage plan | Confirmed finding | The pilot and bridge team did not share a common understanding of the plan for the narrow-channel transit. |
| ECDIS configuration | Confirmed finding | The ECDIS was not configured correctly for the transit, reducing its usefulness for monitoring the vessel’s track. |
| Bridge resource management | Confirmed finding | TAIC found that the standard of bridge resource management did not meet good industry practice and that the vessel was not monitored by all available means. |
Investigation
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission’s final report found that loss of situational awareness, poor alignment between the pilot and bridge team, incorrect ECDIS configuration, and inadequate bridge resource management contributed to the grounding. The report also records safety actions by Anglo-Eastern Ship Management and Port Otago, including changes to pilotage support and upper-harbour operating limits.
References
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