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Maritime Accident News

Lack of sleep may have contributed to Great Barrier Reef grounding

Posted on Apr 18, 2010

A report released by the Australia Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) says that the chief mate who stood watch when the Shen Neng 1 ran aground on the Great Barrier Reef had only 2.5 hours of broken sleep in the previous 37 hours.

According to the report, the lack of sleep may have contributed to a series of errors that led to the April 3 grounding of the ship approximately 50 miles north of Gladstone, Queensland. Other factors cited include failures to use proper charts and update the gps course waypoint alarms. Once the mate realized the ship was in dangerous waters "he attempted to alter course at the last minute but this action was too late and shortly thereafter the ship grounded at a speed of about 12 knots.”

The vessel was 12 kilometers off course.

Both Chief Mate Xuegang Wang, 44, and Captain Jichang Wang, 47, were arrested and face the following charges: The chief mate, a maximum three years in prison and $205,000 fine for being in charge at the time of the accident. The captain, a maximum fine of $550,000. There is no indication of prison time for the captain, who was granted bail on the condition he return to Australia to face charges.

Between two and four tons of the 1,075 tons of heavy engine oil reportedly spilled as the remainder was pumped off. A two-mile gash was cut into the reef.

Source: GCaptain.com

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