A Yang Ming containership that lost dozens of boxes off Australia's east coast in early June was caught in gale-force winds, an initial government report shows.
The 4,250-teu YM Efficiency (built 2009) was battling winds of up to 47 knots amid 5-foot swells for at least two hours in the wee hours of 1 June, according to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau report.
The ship was about 16 nautical miles off of Newcastle when, at about a half hour past midnight, the ship experienced a "period of quick, heavy rolling" for about 60 to 90 seconds.
As a result, the ship rocked from port to starboard at angles of up to 30 degrees per the master's estimate.
This caused the loss of 83 containers and damage to the vessel's gangway, superstructure and lashing bridges. Another 30 boxes had collapsed on deck.
The severe rolling caused several alarms to sound and the ship's main engine to shut down.
The master restarted the engine at about 0045 and then stopped it immediately, allowing the ship to drift in gale-force winds for about two hours.
The ship's engines were then restarted again to finish its voyage from Taiwan to Port Botany near Sidney.
About two hours before the incident, the ship drifted for about eight hours off the coast on 31 May after being notified that the ship's call at Port Botany had been delayed by about eight hours.
The chief officer made sure the container lashings on deck were secure on 30 May after receiving reports of possible high winds, the report said.
The ship eventually reached Port Botany on the morning of 6 June.
The ongoing investigation will analyse the ship's container stow and lashing arrangement, the ship's stability and condition, weather conditions and actions of the ship'd officers and crew following the incident.
