Shen Neng runs aground on Douglas Shoal

People

Environment

Equipment

Procedures

Organisation

Third parties

Shen Neng 1 (Chinese registered bulk carrier)

Port of Gladstone, Queensland Australia

The Great Barrier Reef

Douglas Shoal

Shen Neng ships mates

Harbour pilot

Built in 1993 by Sanoyas Hishino Meisho Corporation, Kurushiki, Japan

Overall length of 225.0 m, a breadth of 32.3 m and a depth of 18.3 m. The ship has a deadweight of 70,181 tonnes at its summer draught of 13.291 m

seven cargo holds

four fuel tanks under after cargo holds

service speed of 12 knots

The vessel is registered in China

owned by Chinese company Shenzhen Energy Transport

Managed by Chinese company Tosco Keymax International Ship Management Company

navigation bridge was equipped with navigational equipment consistent with SOLAS requirements

two global positioning system (GPS) units (a Raytheon NAV398 and a Furuno GP-80)

Sailor KDU1905 automatic identification system (AIS) unit

two X-band radars

double bottom ship

global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS) station

Inmarsat-C satellite communications terminal

The ship had no electronic charting system

Shen Neng has a crew of 23 Chinese nationals

Crew members held qualifications for their positions in accordance with international requirements

At sea, anchor or in port the ship's mates maintained a watch-keeping routine of 4 hours on and 8 hours off.

Deck officers

Consisted of the master and three mates

Chief mate

While in port, the chief mate worked extra hours to supervise cargo operations

Ships Master

24 years of seagoing experience

Completed his Chinese master’s qualifications in 1992

Promoted to master in 2003

Joined Shen Neng crew 6 months before the grounding

This was his first trip to Gladstone

20 years of seagoing experience

11 years as a mate supervising navigation watches

Received Chinese qualifications as a chief mate in 2007 and was promoted to rank of chief mate

Joined the Shen Neng crew one month before the grounding

First trip to Gladstone

Second mate

12 years at sea

10 years working with the managers of the Shen Neng

5 years experience as a mate in charge of navigation

4 months onboard the Shen Neng

Marine Park and World Heritage listed area

1990, the Great Barrier Reef was also declared a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA)

Australia has an international obligation to protect the reef and its wildlife

The region sustains a variety of commercial and recreational activities, including fishing and tourism

Contributes $5 billion per year to the Australian economy

Eleven ports operate within the the Marine Park

Contributes $11 billion to Australia’s export trade

Numerous procedures have been introduced to protect the Great Barrier Reef from shipping

compulsory pilotage between Cairns and Cape York

Introduction of an IMO adopted ship reporting system, requiring ships to report their positions on a regular basis.

Coastal vessel traffic service7 (VTS)

Near real-time monitoring of ships

Provides masters of ships with information on potential traffic conflicts and other navigation information

A system of zoning was introduced to allow ships to transit the reef in designated areas

This included general use zones and designated shipping areas (DSAs)

An extensive aids-to-navigation network, which includes lights, buoys and satellite systems was implemented throughout the region

The Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait Vessel Traffic Service (REEFVTS)

Objective: 'enhance navigational safety in its designated area by interacting with shipping, to minimise the risk of a ship related incident, environmental damage and pollution and to provide the ability for a quicker response to an incident.'

Major components of REEFVTS

A ship reporting system (REEFREP)

Monitoring and surveillance systems

AIS

Radar

Automated position reporting via Inmarsat-C polling and VHF radio reports

These systems and various databases are integrated into a Traffic Information Module (TIM)

The TIM display uses electronic navigational charts and ship position and track information

TIM information is displayed using data from AIS, radar or Inmarsat-C polling

TIM allows real or near real time monitoring of ships positions

Automated alarms are used to monitor ships in the large area covered by TIM and REEFVTS

The REEFVTS service’s 24 hour operational centre, REEFCENTRE, was located at Hay Point near Mackay.

The centre was electronically linked to AMSA’s Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) in Canberra to enhance coordination and communication,

Services provided by REEFVTS

Navigational assistance (information to assist shipboard decision making)

Ship traffic information (STI)

Maritime safety information (MSI)

STI consists of TIM-generated ship encounter predictions which include ship’s names and encounter times for the next 6 hours and any changes to earlier predictions

MSI includes navigational warnings and information

Ships receive STI and MSI when entering the area and then at least every 5 hours, normally via Inmarsat-C

Navigational assistance is provided via VHF radio

Ships are required to keep a listening watch on the appropriate REEFVTS VHF channel and channel 16

Reports are made via VHF when a ship enters or exits the area

Reports are required via VHF when pilot boards or disembarks a ship

Extent of the REEFVTS coverage at the time of the incident

At the time of the incident the southern limit of REEFVTS coverage was at 22 degrees latitude close to High Peak Island around 120 miles north of Gladstone

The grounding at Douglas Shoal took place only 50 miles north of Gladstone

When a ship breaches limits set within in the TIM, an alarm (shallow water alert, exiting corridor) is activated or a critical turn alarm advises the ships crew.

Designated Shipping Lanes (DSA)

Established recognised passages and port approaches

DSA area may be entered without permission for navigation and without a compulsory pilot

Located at 24 degrees south latitude

Australia's third largest coal export port

70% of cargo handled at the port is coal exports

Additional cargoes include bauxite, alumina and cement

Gladstone Vehicle Traffic System (Gladstone VTS)

Gladstone VTS manages the movements of vessels within the port’s pilotage area.

Gladstone pilotage area extends 2 miles east of the pilot boarding area and covers anchorages as well as the entrance to Gladstone Port

Departing vessels make their final report to VTS when the pilot exits the vessel. VTS monitors the vessel until it is clear of the pilotage area.

Shipping Routes through the GBR to and from Gladstone

The area of the GBR off Gladstone is south of 22°S. When the grounding on Douglas Shoal occurred it was outside the boundaries of the area covered by REEFVTS and coastal pilotage requirements

The areas of the GBR off Gladstone are not too complex to navigate due to open areas of sea.

Vessels navigating in the permitted zones and DSAs may do so by following normal practices of vigilance and proper seamanship

Vessels departing Gladstone may choose from multiple routes to transit the GBR Marine Park

This choice is determined by the ships destination and draught

The GBR area east of Gladstone is not a compulsory pilot zone

The area off Gladstone can be safely navigated by utilising the general zone use and DSAs

DSAs are clearly marked on appropriate scale navigational charts

Islands off Gladstone are equipped with navigation aids which includes lights

North Reef near Douglas Shoal has a navigation light as well as a RACON (A radar beacon which transmits a morse code signal upon receiving a radar signal from a passing ship and identifies the RACON location on the vessels radar display

Navigation aids

The Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait Vessel Traffic Service (REEFVTS)

Gladstone Vehicle Traffic System (Gladstone VTS)

Traffic Information Module (TIM)

A ship reporting system (REEFREP)

Monitoring and surveillance systems

Automated position reporting via Inmarsat-C polling and VHF radio reports

Radar

AIS

Navigational assistance is provided via VHF radio

Harbour pilots

The Shen Neng is owned by a Chinese company and registered in China

Owned by Chinese company Shenzhen Energy Transport

Managed by Chinese company Tosco Keymax International Ship Management Company

Australian Transport Safety Bureau

Conducted the investigation into the incident

Published the accident report

Australian Hydrographic Service.

Published the charts reproduced in the investigation report

Guided the Shen Neng into and out of Gladstone Port

Commonwealth of Australia

Responsible for maintaining the GBR Marine Park

Australian Maritime Safety Authority

manages the REEFVTS network

Issued two safety recommendations to Shen Neng’s management company

Safety issue associated with fatigue management

Safety issue regarding passage planning

Identified four safety issues

Ineffective fatigue management for watchkeepers onboard

Inadequate guidance for passage planning including electronic route planning

REEFVTS and compulsory piloting were not in place off of Gladstone at the time of the grounding

No visual warnings for the crew on lookout regarding the shallow water ahead of the ship before the grounding

Responsible for legislation including:Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003 and Regulations

Responsible for conducting investigations to identify safety issues in the transport environment

Shipwright

Deploys anchors

Third mate

Helmsman

Steers the ship

Languages spoken by crew

Could language barriers have been a contributing factor to this incident?

No mention of the languages spoken by the crew was found in the report

Chinese consists of hundreds of language varieties some not mutually understandable

Outside of REEFVTS coverage at the time of the incident

The chief mate had not received enough sleep

AND

The chief mate was fatigued

AND

The chief mate had to stand watch on the 3 April after only 2.5 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period

AND

The chief mate failed to fix the position of the ship at the beginning of his watch

AND

The chief mate failed to calculate the distance to the next course alteration waypoint

AND

The chief mate decided to fix the ships position at 1630 hours

AND

The chief mate was interrupted by the chief engineer at 1630 hours

AND

The chief mate decided to prolong fixing the ships position until 1700 hours

AND

The Shen Neng was now less than 5 miles from Douglas Shoal

AND

At 1700 the chief mate verified the ship's position with the GPS

The chief noticed the 'no go area' displayed on the chart

The chief realised the ship was entering shallow water

The chief mate ordered the ship to immediately steer to starboard

The vessel ran aground