An APL containership at the centre of a major casualty off the east coast of Australia is no stranger to losing containers overboard.
The 5,510-teu APL England (built 2001) lost 37 containers in the Great Australian Bight in August 2016 due to heavy rolling in rough seas, according to the Australian Maritime Safety Agency (AMSA).
“While the vessel was under totally different management at that time, this is another example of the need for crews and operators to ensure cargo is carried, and ships are operated, [safely] to prevent this sort of pollution of the marine environment,” it added.
The APL England has reportedly arrived in the port of Brisbane after diverting from its original destination of Melbourne.
Temporary power loss
AMSA also disclosed the ship's loss of power in the latest incident was only for a "few minutes", but it was enough for the ship to roll heavily.
This caused several container stacks to collapse and 40 boxes to fall overboard in waters about 2km deep.
Six containers are reported to be protruding from the starboard side and three boxes from the port side of the ship.
Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigators were due to board the vessel to begin its investigation into the incident.
Tasks will include surveying the container stacks, assessing any damage, interviewing the crew and downloading data from the voyage recorder.
“A preliminary report will be released about one month after the initial evidence-gathering phase is completed, while the investigation’s final report can be expected to be released in about 18 months’ time,” ATSB said in a statement.
AMSA said this latest incident was “remarkably similar” to the loss of containers from the 4,250-teu YM Efficiency (built 2009) on 1 June 2018 off Newcastle.
“Both ships reported a loss of main engine power during heavy seas leading to heavy rolling and a collapse of containers stacks,” AMSA said.
The YM Efficiency's lost containers were recently recovered from the seabed.
Earlier this month, AMSA confirmed it was taking legal action against Yang Ming Marine Transport to recoup the cost of recovering containers that fell overboard.
The YM Efficiency reportedly lost 81 containers in gale-force winds off the coast of Newcastle and Port Stephens.
