The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has issued an investigation report into an incident where containership CMA CGM Puccini experienced a steering failure while departing the Port of Melbourne, resulting in contact with a navigation beacon.
What happened
In the early hours of 25 May 2023, the containership CMA CGM Puccini was departing the port of Melbourne under the conduct of a harbour pilot. As the ship continued downriver, main engine power was increased and the rudder used to remain in the centre of the channel.
Just after 0444, the bridge team noticed that the rudder was not responding to the helm ordered, with the ship turning wide in the channel as attempts were made to verify and restore steering. A few minutes later, the ship closed on the western edge of the channel and contacted navigation beacon 32.
The ship was then slowed and returned towards the middle of the channel. By 0454, it was stabilised in the channel with tug assistance and then conducted to nearby Webb Dock. The ship suffered minor hull paint damage and beacon 32 was significantly damaged.
Contributing factors
- During departure manoeuvring in the Yarra River, CMA CGM Puccini’s rudder responded erratically and control of the steering was lost. As a result, the ship turned wide in the channel and contacted a navigational beacon.
- Following steering tests conducted for port State control inspections on the day before the incident, one of the hydraulic pump bypass valves was left open. This resulted in the steering system hydraulics being incorrectly configured for normal operation.
- The open bypass flow did not allow development of the required hydraulic system pressure to overcome the increased load on the rudder as the ship’s speed increased, resulting in erratic rudder response.
- The responsible officers on board CMA CGM Puccini had an incomplete understanding of how the steering gear operated. This resulted in the incorrect configuration of the steering system hydraulics and erratic response of the rudder on multiple occasions.
- The ship’s managers’ (CMA CGM) safety management system procedures and guidance for steering gear operation across its fleet were ambiguous and did not clarify the different terminology to those commonly used by the industry. This increased the risk of incorrect configuration of the steering gear, which occurred on board CMA CGM Puccini.
