Near-Grounding Incident in Great Barrier Reef Attributed to GPS Malfunction

A bulk carrier narrowly avoided grounding in the Great Barrier Reef after a GPS unit onboard started providing false information, an Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) final report reveals.

The incident occurred early on the morning of May 4, 2022, when the 225-meter bulk carrier Rosco Poplar was navigating Hydrographers Passage under the guidance of a coastal pilot. Unbeknownst to the pilot and crew, one of the ship’s three GPS units began outputting incorrect positional data, likely due to an antenna malfunction.

This malfunction caused the ship’s incorrect position to be displayed on all navigational equipment, including the electronic chart display and information system, radars, and automatic identification system. As the vessel came within 200 meters of Bond Reef, where a normal clearance would be about 1,500 meters, the pilot suddenly noticed a reef sector light indicating red, followed by an alert from the ship’s electronic navigational equipment.

The pilot immediately ordered a heading change, steering the ship away from the reef. The remaining journey continued without further incidents.

The investigation highlighted that the pilot and bridge team relied solely on GPS positioning to monitor the ship’s progress. The pilot also failed to configure their portable pilot unit to operate independently of the ship’s position sensors. Ineffective bridge resource management and pilotage were also cited as contributing factors.

ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell stated, “An inadequate master-pilot information exchange did not establish individual roles and responsibilities for watchkeeping and communication. Additionally, the second mate was given tasks that distracted them from monitoring the passage plan and maintaining a proper lookout.”

“This occurrence demonstrates the importance of effective bridge resource management,” Mitchell added.

The ATSB investigation also noted that the coastal pilotage check pilot system did not provide the intended competency assurance to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA). Significant variations in assessment standards between individual check pilots indicated that the assessment outcomes were not reliable indicators of competency.

While this did not contribute to the near-grounding, the ATSB has issued a safety recommendation to AMSA to address factors limiting the effectiveness of its check pilot framework.

AMSA has advised that a review of coastal pilotage under current legislation is underway. Mitchell emphasized the necessity of maintaining high standards for coastal pilots to prevent serious shipping accidents in the Great Barrier Reef.

“Compulsory coastal pilotage remains an essential defense against serious shipping accidents in the Great Barrier Reef,” Mitchell said. “It is crucial that assessment standards are consistently interpreted and applied.”

The investigation also found that the vessel traffic services operator dismissed an unusual grounding alert display as erroneous, failing to provide timely advice to the pilot and crew about the ship’s proximity to Bond Reef.

“Consequently, the pilot and ship’s crew were not provided with timely advice of the indicated proximity to Bond Reef,” Mitchell concluded.

Read the final report: Near grounding of Rosco Poplar, Bond Reef, Hydrographers Passage, Queensland on 4 May 2022

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