Pasha Bulker (2007) | Novatug Maritime Wiki

Classification

Incident Type: Grounded
Severity: High
Evidence: Final Australian Transport Safety Bureau occurrence investigation, report 243.

Vessel Details

Field	Value
Vessel Name	Pasha Bulker
Vessel Type	Bulk Carrier
Flag State	Panama [PA]
IMO Number	9317729
Gross Tonnage	40042
LOA (m)	225
Breadth (m)	32.20
Bollard Pull (t)
Power (kW)	9230
Owner/Operator	Wealth Line / Fukujin Kisen Company
TEU
Year Built	2006
Crew Size	21

Incident Details

Field	Value
Date	2007-06-08
Location	Nobbys Beach, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Coordinates	-32.9215, 151.7953
Region	Australia
Fatalities	0
Injuries	0
Missing
Cargo Loss
Direct Damage	Hull breached during the grounding; the ATSB reported no pollution.
Economic Damage
Insured Loss
Salvage/Cleanup Cost

Key facts

Pasha Bulker anchored about 2.4 miles off Newcastle on 23 May 2007 while waiting to load coal, with ballast suitable for the prevailing good weather.
A gale warning was issued on 7 June. The vessel began dragging its anchor at 06:25 on 8 June and got underway at 07:48, when it was about 1.2 miles from shore.
A course alteration at 09:06 was poorly controlled. A later attempt to turn away from the coast also failed, and the vessel grounded on Nobbys Beach at 09:51.
The hull was breached, but the ATSB reported no pollution. All crew were safely evacuated by helicopter by about 13:30.
Pasha Bulker was refloated on 2 July, temporarily repaired in Newcastle, and towed to Vietnam on 26 July for permanent repairs.

Narrative

Pasha Bulker anchored off Newcastle in good weather on 23 May 2007, joining a queue of ships waiting to load coal. The ATSB report states that the vessel had sufficient ballast for the good weather but was not ballasted for the severe conditions later forecast. After a gale warning on 7 June, the master veered additional anchor cable and continued monitoring the vessel. The weather deteriorated overnight, reaching strong gale force with high seas by the morning of 8 June.

At 06:25, Pasha Bulker began dragging its anchor. The master decided to weigh anchor, and the vessel was underway at 07:48, but it was then only about 1.2 miles from the coast. An attempted course alteration at 09:06 was poorly controlled. The vessel's heading moved toward the coast, and the main engine had limited success assisting the turn. At 09:31, a further turn to starboard failed. The master requested assistance at 09:46, but grounding was imminent.

Pasha Bulker grounded on Nobbys Beach at 09:51. Its momentum carried it farther onto rock ledges and the hull was breached, although the ATSB reported no pollution. The crew were winched off by helicopter that afternoon. The vessel was refloated on 2 July, temporarily repaired in Newcastle, and towed to Vietnam on 26 July for permanent repairs.

Sequence of events

Date/time	Event
2007-06-07, midday	The master veered additional anchor cable after a gale warning.
2007-06-08, 05:00	Wind increased to strong gale force and seas reached about 8 m.
2007-06-08, 06:25	Pasha Bulker began dragging its anchor.
2007-06-08, 07:48	The anchor was aweigh and the vessel got underway about 1.2 miles from shore.
2007-06-08, 09:06	The master altered course toward a southerly heading, but the alteration was poorly controlled.
2007-06-08, 09:31	A starboard turn was attempted with Nobbys Beach about 0.8 mile away, but it failed.
2007-06-08, 09:46	The master requested assistance from authorities ashore.
2007-06-08, 09:51	Pasha Bulker grounded on Nobbys Beach.
2007-06-08, afternoon	All crew were evacuated by helicopter.
2007-07-02	Pasha Bulker was refloated and temporarily repaired in Newcastle.
2007-07-26	The vessel was towed to Vietnam for permanent repairs.

Contributing factors

The following factors are labelled as findings or safety issues in the ATSB final report and are not an apportionment of legal liability.

Factor	Evidence status	Description
Heavy-weather preparation and late departure	Confirmed finding	ATSB: The master did not adequately understand heavy-weather ballast, anchor holding power, local weather, or the limitations of the Newcastle anchorage. The vessel was not ballasted for the forecast weather and left too late, after the anchor had dragged.
Decision to remain at anchor	Confirmed finding	ATSB: The decision to remain at anchor unless the anchor dragged was based on an assumption that the anchor would hold and an expectation that the port would tell ships when to put to sea.
Master workload and final manoeuvre	Confirmed finding	ATSB: The master was affected by fatigue, anxiety, overload, and panic during the emergency, and the final high-risk turn toward the lee shore had little prospect of success.
Bridge resource management	Confirmed finding	ATSB: Bridge resource management was poor, with inadequate planning and communication between the master and mates. The 09:06 course alteration was not detected and corrected in time.
Safety management system guidance	Confirmed finding	ATSB safety issue: The ship's safety management system did not give the master specific guidance for putting to sea in adverse weather or for bridge resource management.
Vessel traffic information and assistance	Confirmed finding	ATSB safety issue: The Newcastle Vessel Traffic Information Centre's advisory role was not properly understood, and weather advisories and offers of assistance came after conditions had become extreme.

Investigation

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau published final occurrence investigation report 243 on 23 May 2008. The report records the grounding as a completed marine occurrence investigation and lists the highest injury level as none. Its findings identify safety issues and recommendations, while stating that the findings should not be read as apportioning blame or liability.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority also records that three inquiries followed the grounding. Its separate incident-analysis inquiry was established by AMSA and NSW Maritime under the National Plan and concerned the response to the grounding. The ATSB report is the primary source for the accident sequence, vessel particulars, and contributing safety factors.

References

ATSB investigation page - final investigation record, occurrence summary, ship identity, and timeline.
ATSB final report 243 - findings, safety issues, recommendations, vessel particulars, and salvage timeline.
ATSB source note - structured evidence note for the official report.
AMSA response and incident-analysis record - separate inquiry into the response to the grounding.