International News

The gas tanker had just left its berth at the Port of Brisbane when it lost propulsion for two minutes as two of its three electrical generators were not properly configured causing the Gaschem Homer blackout, according to an Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) final report.

What happened

At 1100 local time on 15 March 2025, Gaschem Homer was departing for sea from its berth in the port of Brisbane, Queensland, under the conduct of a harbour pilot. At 1104, while the ship was being turned towards the port’s entrance, it experienced an electrical blackout, resulting in the total loss of propulsion and steering control. About two minutes later, the crew restored the electrical power. The incident did not result in damage or injury. Continue reading “Gaschem Homer blackout due to generator issue in Port of Brisbane”

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has published its final investigation report into the fatal Silver Condor sinking, which resulted in the deaths of three crew members near La Tabatière, Quebec. 

What happened

On 24 September 2023, the fishing vessel Silver Condor, with 6 people on board, began its return trip to port after fishing for redfish. Around midnight on 25 September, the vessel started listing to port and sinking by the stern; as the vessel sank, all people on board entered the water. Continue reading “Fatal Silver Condor sinking reflects long-standing safety issues in commercial fishing”

An undocumented modifications on Wisdom Venture oil tanker resulted in burns to three crew members, according to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB). 

What happened

On 6 May 2025, the oil tanker Wisdom Venture was drifting off Sydney, New South Wales, when the engineering team commenced maintenance on the main deck steam valve for the cargo heating system. The valve had been leaking from the bonnet joint gasket.

Following isolation of the system, the team removed the valve bonnet. During this process, residual hot condensate was suddenly released, resulting in burn injuries to 3 crew members. Continue reading “Crew steam injuries due to undocumented modifications on Wisdom Venture”

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has published its investigation report into a overloaded barge which led to a crewmember and cargo overboard in Frobisher Bay, Nunavut in 2023 due to and overloaded barge. 

What happened

On 27 October 2023, the cargo vessel Sivumut was anchored in Frobisher Bay, Nunavut, while transshipping cargo to Iqaluit, Nunavut, using barges and tugs.

During transshipment operations, the tug Qimmiq departed the Sivumut while towing the Tasijuaq barge in an alongside tow. Continue reading “TSB Canada: Overloaded barge led to crewmember and cargo overboard”

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has published its investigation report into the engine room fire onboard the bulk carrier Cuyahoga that occurred in May 2023. The Cuyahoga was loaded with granular crushed stone as she left Marblehead, Ohio, U.S., bound for Kingsville, Ontario on Lake Erie. Almost three hours into the voyage, a fire ignited in the engine room. The crew initiated an emergency response, cut the fuel supply to the main engine, and attempted to activate the CO2 fixed fire suppression system remotely, without success. An attempt to locally activate the fixed fire suppression system also failed and resulted in the cylinder room flooding with CO2. Due to the cessation of fuel flow, the engine stopped, and the fire extinguished itself soon after. Continue reading “Cuyahoga engine room fire report by Canada TSB”

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has published a report into the grounding of barge Cordova Provider earlier this year.

What Happened

On January 11, 2025, at 0250 local time, the integrated tug and barge Krystal Sea/Cordova Provider was transiting Prince William Sound when the four lines connecting the tug to the barge parted, causing the barge to uncouple from the tug. The barge drifted, eventually Continue reading “NTSB investigation into grounding of barge Cordova Provider”