WORLD DIANA

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Report: Ineffective bridge resource management contributed to grounding

Ineffective bridge resource management contributed to the grounding of the 'World Diana' on April 22, 2023, in the Port of Bunbury, Western Australia, an Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation, which was published on July 10, 2024, has found. The bulk arrier was departing Bunbury with harbour pilot and two tugs assisting. After being moved off its berth, the ship had to be turned in the turning basin before exiting the harbor. This turn was started earlier than planned, reducing the amount of room available. The ship’s speed was then allowed to increase until there was no room to safely turn, and the bow of the ship grounded on a shallow bank to the east of the harbour entrance. The ship sustained minor hull damage but was able to be manoeuvred off the bank, and no pollution was reported. The ATSB’s investigation found that tge bridge resource management during the pilotage was ineffective. The report notes´d that proper use of the available portable pilot unit, effective communication, and active involvement of the 'World Diana'’s bridge team and the tug masters, would have allowed the deviation from the plan to be detected in time to prevent the grounding. Specific information and limits for the departure plan were only known to the pilot, which made it difficult for the bridge team to raise concerns during the event. Additionally, the ATSB found that the Port of Bunbury had not developed adequate procedures for arrival and departure plans for larger ships berthed on their starboard side alongside berth no. 3. This reduced the information available to pilots for these ship movements, and to share with bridge teams and tug masters to ensure a common understanding of how manoeuvring would be conducted. Full report: https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2024/report/mo-2023-001