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Australian Transport Safety Bureau published preliminary report about grounding incident near Heard Island
An Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) preliminary report was published about a grounding incident of the 'Nuyina' near Heard Island on Oct 13, 2025, as the research vessel operated close to shore, conducting drone survey works near the Fur Seal Beach, about 4,000 kilometers southwest of Perth. The vessel made bottom contact with both its retractable drop keel and hull before clearing the area. The vessel was operating with its drop keel extended approximately 75 centimetres below its nominal 9-meter draft. The keel housed scientific equipment, including a high-resolution multi-beam echo sounder that remained active following overnight seabed mapping operations. To avoid interference with the survey equipment, the ship’s navigational echo sounders had been switched off. While the multi-beam system continued to provide depth data, that information was not integrated into the vessel’s electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS), meaning it was not visible on the primary navigation display or capable of triggering automated shallow-water alarms. The grounding occurred as the vessel repositioned about five nautical miles to the northwest following survey operations. The master had planned the route using the aft ECDIS station, but the route did not display on the forward ECDIS used for navigation. As the master worked to resolve the issue, the second officer continued the transit using a pre-existing electronic bearing line that had been used earlier during drone operations along the coastline. That track led the vessel through a narrow corridor between a charted bank and an adjacent area of uncharted seabed, where hydrographic data was incomplete. Warnings of decreasing depth came from the acoustics operator monitoring the multi-beam system, including a reported depth of about 15 metres followed shortly by a second alert indicating rapidly shoaling water. The master ordered engines stopped and then slow astern, but the vessel grounded moments later. The drop keel made initial contact with the seabed before the hull also touched bottom. The vessel quickly freed itself and drifted clear of the area before regaining position. The damage was primarily limited to the drop keel and its mounted scientific instruments, some of which were damaged or lost. The hull sustained only minor scraping and paint damage, consistent with earlier assessments that the vessel remained seaworthy. Following consultation with authorities and technical experts ashore, the 'Nuyina' continued its Antarctic mission, including a scheduled resupply at Davis Station, before returning to Hobart. The ATSB emphasized that the preliminary report contained no formal findings or conclusions. The investigators have conducted crew interviews and reviewed voyage data, CCTV footage, operational procedures, and bathymetric information. The final report will examine contributing safety factors, including bridge resource management, navigation system integration, and operational decision-making.
Troubled icebreaker remains at center of controversy
The 'Nuyina' remains at the center of controversy with the latest report highlighting that it has not carried out any scientific voyages since its launch in 2021. The icebreaker, which is operated by the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD), has experienced mechanical failures which have raised concerns. as the new Australian federal government report criticizes the fact that the ship has not carried out any scientific expeditions. The only form of scientific research, according to the AAD, arrived in February2024 with its first contribution to a decades-long multinational program studying the tiny marine plants and animals of the Southern Ocean. The 'Nuyina' conducted the survey while sailing to the Casey research station. Before that, the vessel had initially been withdrawn after arriving in Australia due to an electrical problem. During the launch in 2022, it experienced a shortage of spare parts which delayed the first missions until 2023. “The Australian Antarctic Division is struggling to leave enough time on the ship to deliver marine science", the report stated, adding that with Antarctic science being a major benefit the government sought from the investment in the icebreaker, it may be necessary to consider whether the single-ship model is going to achieve all that is required in the Australian Antarctic Programme. The 'Nuyina' is equipped with four permanent scientific laboratories and can accommodate 20 more in additional containers for specialized research projects that will evolve in the coming decades. She can accommodate 117 people and 32 crew for 92 days at sea.
Sick person taken to hospital
After the extremely complicated rescue of a sick person from the Casey Research Station in the Antarctic, approximately 3,380 kilometers south of Perth, the person has arrived at a hospital in Hobart, where the icebreaker 'Nuyina' berthed on Sep 10. In total, the ship sailed around 6,500 kilometers. The sick person was brought on board by a helicopter, suffering from a developing illness and in need of a specialist medical examination and care in Australia. On board of the icebreaker, doctors and staff from the Royal Hobart Hospital looked after the person.
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