GOLIATH

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Tasports appeals court decision

Tasmania's ports operator is appealing against a Federal Court preliminary decision that would limit how much it can claim over the allision of the 'Goliath' with the tugs 'York Cove' and 'Campbell Cove'. TasPorts is seeking costs of nearly $22 million plus interest, including for salvage works, environmental clean-up and wharf repairsm but the court ruling could slash that by about $7 million. TasPorts is appealing a preliminary court decision that could slash about a third off its multi-million dollar claim against the company responsible for sinking the tugs at the Port of Devonport, spilling an estimated combined total of 64,000 litres of diesel fuel and other hydrocarbons into the Mersey River. It took almost seven months to remove the tugs, with the 'York Cove' requiring two cranes to lift. TTasPorts took the ship's owner CSL Australia to the Federal Court for allegedly breaching the contract under which the 'Goliath' entered the port, as well as negligence and public nuisance. TasPorts is seeking costs of almost $22 million, plus interest. The claim includes $2.17 million for the lost tugs, $114,869 for the loss of hydrocarbons, $2,958,595 for replacement hire tugs and $117,152 for damage caused to the wharf.The bulk of the claim, which amounts to $17,245,743, is for containment, removal and disposal of hydrocarbons, and retrieving the tugs. CSL later lodged a limitation proceeding, attempting to limit its liability under maritime law. TasPorts attempted to fight against it, arguing the company had no right to water down its liability, or that, if it did, that should not extend to wreck removal. In the judgement, Justice Stewart detailed the long history of the limitation, including its role in accommodating international trade by sea by encouraging investment by shipowners secure in the knowledge that they will not face potentially crippling unlimited liability, and enable them to obtain insurance which is not prohibitively expensive. TasPorts would appeal the decision, as the preliminary decision has not 'cast doubt' on TasPorts' claim; rather it has found that the most TasPorts can recover from CSL is [approximately] $15.1 million. In a report into the incident, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) found the 'Goliath' was travelling with an incorrect steering setting, causing it to speed up as it negotiated a tight turn into the river. The cement carrier was on a routine trip from Melbourne with 17 crew members on board. The crew attempted to stop the ship from moving forward by changing the steering setting, while being informed of the rapidly decreasing clearances between the ship and the tugs. The ATSB also found senior members onboard the Goliath had not completed required bridge resource management training, which was described as a universally accepted tenet to the safe navigation of ships.The report detailed two previous incidents involving the steering system, where the ship made contact with the shore or wharf and, on one occasion, narrowly avoided collision with a tug.

Cement carrier sank two tugs

The 'Goliath', upon its arrival from Devonport, allided with the TasPorts tugs 'York Cove' and 'Campbell Cove' while manoevering in port on Jan 7, 2022, at 11.50 a.m. at Devonport. The 'Campbell Cove' got the portside hull crushed amidships and the superstructure sliced open. Both tugs were so severly damaged that they sank. No crews were on board the tugs, and no-one has been injured. The tugs ended semi-submerged alongside the wharf at Berth 4 West, remaining secured to the wharf. TasPorts was continuing to monitor the status. The Environment Protection Authority deployed oil spill response equipment around both tugs to contain any oil spill. An exclusion zone has been established around the wharf area, and the EPA was controlling the spill, working with TasPorts and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania to identify impacted industries and wildlife and protect and minimise damage. Report with photos: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-28/two-tug-boats-sinking-devonport/100788228

ATSB investigating steering gear compartment flooding

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau was investigating the flooding of the steering gear compartment on the"Goliath" enroute from Melbourne to Devonport 63 miles NNW of Devonport on March 7, 2018. The ATSB planned to conduct a short, fact-based investigation into this incident. As part of the investigation, the ATSB will obtain the necessary information from the vessel and company and interview directly involved parties as deemed appropriate. On March 7 ballast water exchange operations were in progress when it was found that salt water had entered the ship's steering gear compartment. Approximately 12m³ of water covered the compartment deck and overflowed into adjacent spaces and draining into the engine-room bilges. Ballasting operations were stopped until the water was cleaned up. The source of the leak was suspected to be a holed pipe within the after peak salt water ballast tank. Upon arrival at Devonport the tank was to be inspected and a permanent repair made. A final report will be released at the end of the investigation. The ship had arrived at Devonport on March 7 at 10 p.m. and sailed again on March 8.