Classification
- Incident Type: Collision
- Severity: High
- Tug involvement: yes
- Tug mechanism: Loss of propulsion
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Global Peace |
| Vessel Type | Bulk carrier |
| Flag State | Panama [PA] |
| IMO Number | 8005082 |
| Gross Tonnage | 67,727 |
| LOA (m) | 263.00 |
| Breadth (m) | 42.07 |
| Year Built | 1982 |
| Assisting tug | Tom Tough, Australian-registered z-peller tug (IMO 8112419) |
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 2006-01-24 |
| Location | Clinton Coal Terminal, Port of Gladstone, Queensland, Australia |
| Region | Australia |
| Fatalities | Not reported |
| Injuries | Not reported |
| Missing | Not reported |
| Investigation Body | Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) |
| Direct Damage | Global Peace’s port deep fuel oil tank was punctured |
| Salvage/Cleanup | Approximately 25 m³ of heavy fuel oil escaped into Gladstone Harbour |
Narrative
During a berthing operation at Gladstone’s Clinton Coal Terminal, Tom Tough was working aft of the Panamanian-registered bulk carrier Global Peace. At about 23:54, the tug’s starboard main engine shut down and its stern swung into the ship. The tug’s starboard quarter punctured Global Peace’s shell plating near the port deep fuel oil tank, releasing heavy fuel oil into the harbour.
Investigation
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau found that a cracked clutch-oil discharge pipe on Tom Tough’s starboard main engine emptied the system of oil and activated the engine shutdown. It estimated that about 25 cubic metres of heavy fuel oil entered Gladstone Harbour; the port’s response began immediately and clean-up continued for seven days. The report also identified shortcomings in fender protection, maintenance follow-up, engine-room monitoring and alarm alerting.
References
Related
- Australia
- Collision
- Tug Incident Classification
- Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB)