Subscribe to RSS feedSecond mate at centre of Atlantic Eagle grounding
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has found that a second mate failed to monitor the Atlantic Eagle's progress or establish her position when given the helm before she grounded off Albany last year.
Rob McKay
The bulker had been just outside port limits on July 15 and her speed had been increased to 14 knots for the voyage to Fremantle, the bureau said today.
During the next 10 minutes, the master made two significant course alterations and then set the ship on a heading of 235º, an allowance of 5º to port of the ship's planned course.
At 0835, he left the bridge, instructing the second mate to keep the ship on the set heading and clear of islands.
"The investigation found that Atlantic Eagle's safety management system procedures for navigation and record keeping had not been effectively implemented on board the ship," the ATSB said.
On August 24, after completing temporary repairs, the ship was towed from Albany, bound for Jakarta to discharge her partial cargo of wheat before undergoing permanent repairs in Vietnam.
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