Failure to correct ship’s engine fault during pre-departure testing led to loss of manoeuvrability after leaving port

The New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has published its investigation report on an incident involving loss of manoeuvrability on a commercial vessel at the Port of Tauranga.

On July 5, 2020, the log carrier Funing finished loading its cargo at the Port of Tauranga and began preparations for departure. At about 22:00 local time on July 5, the officer of the watch contacted the engineers and informed them that departure was planned for midnight.

When the main engine was tested in the astern direction, the main engine fault log indicated there was a fuel injection quantity piston failure.

The engineering team attempted to rectify the fault but were unable to do so before the vessel departed its berth at about 00:18 on July 6, when the fault reoccurred again on the main engine.

At 00:24 the tugs were let go, and at 00:27 the Port of Tauranga harbour pilot ordered full ahead. Funing‘s speed through the water was about 4.3 knots.

By 00:43 the vessel’s speed through the water was about zero knots, and its speed over the ground was about the same as the ebbing tidal stream of 3.5 knots. The vessel was effectively drifting with the current and moving out of the channel.

Shortly afterwards, the vessel drifted over channel marker “B” buoy, and the buoy’s mooring chain became entangled in the vessel’s rudder and propeller.

Why it happened

The TAIC report said Funing‘s engineers identified a fault with the main engine during pre-departure testing, but they did not confirm it was rectified before departure.

Ineffective communication between the master and chief engineer meant the bridge team were not fully aware of the problem with the main engine, nor its implications in respect of vessel manoeuvrability. The main engine defect was not accounted for during the bridge team’s preparation for departure, and therefore the harbour pilot was also unaware of the defect.

The main engine fault was very likely due to the effect of low-sulphur fuel on the injection control unit.

What can be learned

The TAIC added that the role that bridge resource management and engine room resource management play in respect of the safety of a vessel cannot be overstated. Good communication between departments is a core principle that may, had it been implemented on this occasion, have caused the master to reconsider the planned departure time.