2023 monthly domestic commercial vessel incident reports

The information you provide in your incident report plays an important part in guiding the way we improve maritime safety for everybody on the water. By reporting marine incidents to us, you are also meeting your reporting obligations under Australian laws.

July 2023

There were 82 reported incidents involving domestic commercial vessels in July 2023. Of these, 17 were serious.

Very serious and serious incidents containing sensitive information or information that may identify individual persons or vessels have not been included below.   

State	Vessel type	Incident
NSW	Class 1	Passenger jumped overboard while the vessel was underway. Passenger was not wearing a lifejacket and was recovered without injury.
NSW	Class 2	Crew member fell overboard during mooring operation. Crew member was wearing a lifejacket and was recovered without injury.
NSW	Class 2	Vessel capsized while assisting a grounded vessel. Crew were wearing lifejackets and swam to the beach. Two crew members sustained serious injuries and required medevac.
NSW	Class 3	Vessel sunk alongside at berth. No persons onboard at the time. No pollution reported.
NSW	Class 4	Vessel’s mooring failed and collided with multiple vessels while adrift. No persons onboard at the time.
NT	Class 2	Crew member sustained a finger fracture during loading and required hospital treatment.
Qld	Class 1	Crew member fell overboard while the vessel remained in gear manoeuvring. The crew member was recovered with no injuries reported.
Qld	Class 1	Two passengers jumped overboard while the vessel berthed. The passengers were not wearing lifejackets and were recovered without injury.
Qld	Class 2	Crew member lost balance following the vessel being struck by multiple large waves. Crew member sustained a leg fracture and required medevac.
Qld	Class 2	Vessel grounded while operating at night. Two crew members were injured and required hospitalisation.
Qld	Class 2	Vessel’s engine bay caught fire following a cabling issue. Fire suppression activated and required assistance to return to harbour. No injuries or pollution reported.
Qld	Class 2	Vessel grounded on rocks while assisting another vessel. The vessel required assistance off the rocks and returned to port under own propulsion.
Qld	Class 3	Vessel experienced major main engine failure while departing wharf. Vessel to complete repairs at anchorage.
Tas	Class 3	Vessel’s alternator caught fire while berthed. A crew member extinguished the fire and alternator has since been replaced.
Vic	Class 2	Vessel’s port engine well flooded during a fishing charter. A crew member identified the transom inspection cap was missing. Vessel returned to port on one engine.
WA	Class 1	Vessel capsized during poor weather conditions. No fuel or pollutant substances onboard.
WA	Class 2	Vessel experienced significant water ingress through side access door due to bow heaving into the water during a large wave. No injuries or vessel damage sustained.

June 2023

There were 82 reported incidents involving domestic commercial vessels in June 2023. Of these, 21 were serious and one very serious.  

Very serious and serious incidents containing sensitive information or information that may identify individual persons or vessels have not been included below.   

State	Vessel type	Incident
NSW	Class 1	Passenger fell down a flight of stairs and sustained a head laceration. The passenger required medevac.
NSW	Class 3	Two passengers and a crew member fell into the water while boarding the vessel. The crew member sustained a head laceration. All persons were recovered and required medevac.
NT	Class 3	Vessel disabled following main engine failure. Vessel required a tow to return to port.
QLD	Class 1	Vessel line parted during passenger transfer operation in rough weather conditions. A crew member sustained minor abrasions due to the parting line.
QLD	Class 1	Vessel ran aground in shallow water. Vessel required a tow to return to port.
QLD	Class 1	Vessel collided with a helipad while berthing in rough weather conditions. A passenger fell forward into the guard rail and sustained a fractured sternum.
QLD	Class 1	Vessel collided with a pile while underway. The collision threw crew and passengers off their feet. 10 persons received medical treatment.
QLD	Class 1	Crew member fell overboard while climbing the vessel’s roof. Crew member was not wearing a lifejacket and was recovered without injury.
QLD	Class 2	Crew member fell down a flight of stairs during shift. Crew member sustained a head laceration and required medevac.
QLD	Class 2	Vessel rotated and capsized. Crew member was wearing a lifejacket and was recovered without injury.
QLD	Class 2	Vessel hit a wave during training exercise. Two crew members sustained injuries due to impact.
QLD	Class 2	Vessel engine room flooded when pipe used to suction bilge water penetrated hull.
QLD	Class 3	Vessel experienced main engine failure while underway. Vessel required a tow to return to port.
QLD	Class 4	Vessel ran grounded while attempting to retrieve tender. Vessel required assistance and refloated next tide.
QLD	Class 4	Passenger’s leg sustained injuries while swimming around back of vessel. The passenger required medevac.
QLD	Class 4	Personal watercraft struck a rock at speed. The rock punctured a hole through the ski. No injuries reported.
TAS	Class 2	Two divers failed to be located at time of expected resurface. A search was undertaken by emergency services. Divers were located and taken to hospital for medical attention.
TAS	Class 2	Vessel capsized while undertaking mooring maintenance. Two persons fell overboard and were recovered without injury.
WA	Class 1	Vessels collided during crew transfer operation. Vessel sustained hull damage. No injuries reported.
WA	Class 3	Vessel sustained significant damage to wheelhouse following a hit from a rogue wave. No injuries reported.

May 2023

There were 99 reported incidents involving domestic commercial vessels in May 2023. Of these, 17 were serious and one very serious.  

Very serious and serious incidents containing sensitive information or information that may identify individual persons or vessels have not been included below.   

State	Vessel type	Incident
WA	Class 2	Vessel was retrieving scientific equipment from the sea when unexpected waves swamped the vessel. Three persons fell overboard and were rescued by another vessel nearby and brought ashore safely. Vessel was lost at sea.
WA	Class 2	Vessel experienced mechanical failure of spud legs while under tow. Subsequently, the vessel was pinned to the seabed and hull integrity was compromised.
WA	Class 3	Unattended vessel caught fire from pot of oil left on stove. Significant damage sustained to galley and console equipment. Repairs in progress.
NSW	Class 1	Vessel collided with wharf following an operational control error while departing. Significant damage sustained to the starboard bow and one crew member sustained a minor injury.
NSW	Class 1	Passenger dived overboard without a lifejacket and swam to shore. No injuries were reported.
NSW	Class 1	Vessel made contact with ferry cables at full speed. Ferry cables damaged and partially severed.
NSW	Class 2	Crew member fell overboard following the vessel’s motor stalling. Crew member was wearing a lifejacket and recovered with minor injury.
NSW	Class 3	Master fell asleep at the helm and vessel grounded. Significant damage and water ingress sustained.
NSW	Class 3	Vessel sunk at berth with 2000 litres of diesel onboard. Pollution contained by deployment of absorbent boom. No injuries reported.
NT	Class 1	Vessel collided with a tree following loss of control while turning at speed. Two passengers sustained significant injuries and required medical treatment at hospital.
NT	Class 3	Vessel suffered a total power failure following failure of main genset. Vessel required a tow to return to port.
QLD	Class 1	Crew member fell overboard while securing transfer vessel. Crew member was wearing a lifejacket and recovered without injury.
QLD	Class 1	Crew member fell overboard while berthing. Crew member was not wearing a lifejacket and recovered without injury.
QLD	Class 1	Vessel sunk at mooring. No fuel/oil pollution reported. Vessel has since re-floated.
QLD	Class 1	Passenger jumped overboard without a lifejacket and swam to shore. No injuries were reported.
QLD	Class 2	Passenger fell overboard while boarding vessel. Passenger was not wearing a lifejacket and recovered without injury.
QLD	Class 2	Two crew members fell overboard from an unpowered punt. The vessel capsized following uneven weight distribution. Both crew members were wearing lifejackets and recovered without injury.
TAS	Class 3	Vessel collided with a moored vessel. The moored vessel sustained damage.

April 2023

There were 80 reported incidents involving domestic commercial vessels in April 2023. Of these, 16 were serious and one was very serious.  

Very serious and serious incidents containing sensitive information or information that may identify individual persons or vessels have not been included below.   

State	Vessel type	Incident
NSW	Class 4	Vessel ran aground on mudbank on route to marina damaging both engines.
NSW	Class 1	Main engine shut down unexpectedly while operating close to wharf. Vessel towed to berth.
NSW	Class 1	Passenger who was sitting in the trampoline net was flung overboard and passed through the tunnel of the catamaran. Crew member entered water to assist passenger recovery. Passenger experienced minor physical injury.
NT	Class 2	Vessel yawed and grounded following tidal movement while departing landing. No damage to vessel or environment.
QLD	Class 3	Vessel collided with another vessel berthed at wharf while coming alongside, causing damaged trawler arm.
QLD	Class 2	Passenger dislocated shoulder when lifting another passenger onto the dive vessel from the water. Medevac by ambulance was required for treatment ashore.
QLD	Class 1	Crew member received an electric shock from a damaged power board when trying to plug in a device from a passenger. Went to hospital for medical assessment and declared unfit for duties.
QLD	Class 1	Vessel went off-course and grounded on an unsighted coral bommie, damaging props and rudders following misalignment of GPS.
QLD	Class 3	Vessel was abandoned and sank after taking on water through prop shaft. Two crew members abandoned vessel with life jackets, EPIRB and life ring. Secondary vessel in area assisted with the recovery of the crew.
QLD	Class 4	Vessel hull breached following grounding on uncharted coral bommie at mooring area. Water ingress stopped and vessel returned to port.
QLD	Class 4	Vessel’s head sail was struck, pushed and grounded to sand bar.
QLD	Class 1	While conducting rope work, crew member's thumb was caught between guard rail and rope causing injury to thumb. Crew member sent ashore for medical treatment.
QLD	Class 2	Vessel drifted and grounded following chafing of mooring line. Vessel suffered prop damage and required re-floating and tow to berth for repair.
SA	Class 3	Vessel capsized following rogue wave and two crew members were thrown overboard. Crew members activated EPIRB and were rescued. No injuries sustained.
SA	Class 3	Stabilisers damaged and vessel hull breached following grounding on shallow reef.
WA	Class 3	Vessel sustained damage to propellor and machinery following contact with cray pots. Vessel required substantial repairs to return to operation.
WA	Class 2	Vessel experienced gearbox failure. Required a tow to port for repairs.

March 2023

There were 90 reported incidents involving domestic commercial vessels in March 2023. Of these, 27 were serious and 2 very serious.  

Very serious and serious incidents containing sensitive information or information that may identify individual persons or vessels have not been included below.   

State	Vessel type	Incident
NSW	Class 1 - Passenger	Vessel grounded after main engine became stuck in astern propulsion. No injuries or pollution reported.
NSW	Class 1 - Passenger	Passenger fell and made contact with railing on the main deck. They sustained injuries to their back and required medevac by ambulance.
NSW	Class 1 - Passenger	Vessel made contact with a submerged object. Damage to propellors, gear shafts and skegs.
NSW	Class 2 - Non-Passenger	Crew member fell backwards and hit their head while vessel was underway in rough water conditions. Crew member received medical treatment onshore.
QLD	Class 1 - Passenger	Passenger jumped overboard without lifejacket. Passenger exited the water without assistance from the vessel.
QLD	Class 1 - Passenger	Vessel sunk while moored to jetty.
QLD	Class 1 - Passenger	Passenger jumped overboard without lifejacket. Recovered without injury.
QLD	Class 1 - Passenger	Vessel made heavy contact with jetty pylon while berthing in strong weather conditions. Vessel sustained damage to the bow.
QLD	Class 1 - Passenger	Vessel made contact with buoy. Damage to propellor and buoy.
QLD	Class 4 - Hire ‘n’ Drive	Jet ski collided at high speed with anchored tender vessel. The tender sustained significant damage, rendering it inoperable.
QLD	Class 2 - Non-Passenger	Tug sustained hull damage following collision with towed vessel during towing operations.
QLD	Class 2 - Non-Passenger	Crew member wearing a lifejacket went overboard from tender vessel when assisting a disabled jet ski. Crew member was recovered without injury.
QLD	Class 2 - Non-Passenger	Vessel was struck by a large wave and capsized. Crew member and diver onboard went into the water and sustained minor injuries.
QLD	Class 2 - Non-Passenger	Person wearing a lifejacket went overboard while their vessel was under tow. Towing vessel recovered them from the water. No injuries reported.
QLD	Class 2 - Non-Passenger	Vessel experienced gearbox oil cooler failure on both engines. After conducting repairs, engine speed remained limited. Vessel directed to go to anchor to effect complete repairs before continuing passage.
Thursday Island	Class 2 - Non-Passenger	Vessel grounded on the wrong side of the channel. Damage to starboard propellor.
VIC	Class 2 - Non-Passenger	Vessel swung around to approach jetty creating a significant wash. Storage platform barge was flipped on its side in the wash and all items on the deck slid into the water.
VIC	Class 2 - Non-Passenger	Vessel ran out of fuel following extended voyage duration in strong weather conditions. Vessel required assistance from rescue vessel.
VIC	Class 2 - Non-Passenger	Towage vessel experienced blackout during berthing operations of container ship. Power was restored shortly after.
WA	Class 1 - Passenger	Vessel grounded high on reef and sustained damage to starboard side.
WA	Class 1 - Passenger	Passenger jumped overboard without a lifejacket and swam to shore.
WA	Class 2 - Non-Passenger	Vessel made hard contact with the gangway of another vessel and the gangway swung violently. Person on the gangway experienced bruising and pain.
WA	Class 2 - Non-Passenger	Vessel experienced fire in the engine room. Fire was extinguished and no injuries or significant damage reported.
WA	Class 2 - Non-Passenger	Vessel's compressor caught fire and was extinguished by crew. No major damage or injuries reported.
WA	Class 3 - Fishing (commercial)	Vessel grounded on rocks. One passenger taken to hospital with unknown injuries.
WA	Class 3 - Fishing (commercial)	Vessel clipped a reef, damaging the hull and causing water ingress. Vessel beached itself to undertake repairs.
VIC	Class 1 - Passenger	Vessel collided with a windsurfer. Windsurfer was pulled ashore by onlookers and taken to hospital for medical treatment.

February 2023

There were 91 reported incidents involving domestic commercial vessels in February 2023. Of these, 13 were serious and one very serious.  

Very serious and serious incidents containing sensitive information or information that may identify individual persons or vessels have not been included below. 

State	Vessel type	Incident
QLD	Class 1 - Passenger	Vessel experienced engine failure while boarding passengers. Vessel grounded on the beach due to strong winds. No injuries reported.
WA	Class 3 – Fishing (commercial)	Crew member was struck by a saw shark during fishing operations. Crew member sustained serious injuries to their arm and required medical treatment.
NSW	Class 1 - Passenger	Vessel experienced catastrophic engine failure while underway.
VIC	Class 1 - Passenger	Hire 'n' drive vessel was struck by recreational rowing vessel resulting in significant damage to both vessels. Passenger on board the hire 'n' drive vessel sustained injuries to their back requiring treatment by paramedics.
NSW	Class 2 – Non-Passenger	Vessel experienced water ingress following suspected hull breach. Investigation ongoing.
NSW	Class 1 - Passenger	Vessel experienced main engine failure and was disabled at anchor. Vessel was unable to retrieve anchor after main engine power was restored. Anchor was released and later recovered by divers.
NSW	Class 1 – Passenger	Vessel experienced significant water ingress through hull requiring emergency assistance to stay afloat. Vessel was removed from the water for repairs.
QLD	Class 1 - Passenger	Passenger on a diving trip suffered a medical episode and became unconscious. Required medevac by helicopter.
NSW	Class 1 – Passenger	Vessel approaching mooring was caught in a sudden storm resulting in collision with another vessel.
NSW	Class 1 – Passenger	Vessel propulsion was engaged while vessel was preparing to weigh anchor, resulting in collision with another vessel.
QLD	Class 1 - Passenger	Vessel made contact with wharf while berthing in high winds and sustained damage to the hull. No injuries reported.
WA	Class 1 – Passenger	Crew member fell in the engine room while carrying out maintenance. Crew member sustained injuries to their wrist and elbow requiring treatment at hospital.
NSW	Class 1 – Passenger	Vessel experienced fire in engine bay resulting in significant damage. All passengers and crew were evacuated without injury.
NSW	Class 1 – Passenger	Passenger went overboard without a lifejacket and sustained injuries to their face. Another passenger followed them into the water to assist. Both passengers were recovered and met by ambulance for medical treatment.

January 2023

There were 104 reported incidents involving domestic commercial vessels in January 2023. Of these, 22 were serious.  

Very serious and serious incidents containing sensitive information or information that may identify individual persons or vessels have not been included below. 

State	Vessel type	Incident
NSW	Class 1 - Passenger	Passenger wearing a lifejacket went overboard in rough water conditions. Passenger recovered by members of the public and taken to hospital for further treatment. Four other passengers sustained injuries requiring medevac.
NSW	Class 3 – Fishing (commercial)	Significant damage to vessel following engine room fire. No injuries to crew on board.
NSW	Class 1 - Passenger	Passenger fell into water while disembarking. Passenger was recovered with minor injuries and required first aid.
TAS	Class 1 - Passenger	Vessel collided with another vessel. Stand-on vessel sustained damage above the water line. No injuries were reported.
QLD	Class 3 – Fishing (commercial)	Crew member went overboard when vessel grounded on a reef. Crew member sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital for further treatment.
NSW	Class 1 - Passenger	Sailing vessel capsized after sail collided with commercial vessel.
QLD	Class 3 – Fishing (commercial)	Vessel collided with another vessel. No injuries or other damage reported.
NSW	Class 1 - Passenger	Vessel collided with Ferry cables causing the guide cable to break.
QLD	Class 2 – Non-Passenger	Vessel experienced generator fire. Fire was extinguished and damaged machinery was replaced.
WA	Class 2 – Non-Passenger	Crew member wearing a lifejacket fell overboard during ship-to-ship transfer. Crew member was retrieved and sustained minor injuries.
NSW	Class 1 - Passenger	Passenger without a lifejacket fell into water between the wharf and vessel. Passenger was retrieved and met by ambulance for medical treatment.
NT	Class 2 – Non-Passenger	Vessel experienced engine breakdown while underway and required towing assistance.
VIC	Class 3 – Fishing (commercial)	Crew member was lifting stabiliser wing when the wing was struck by a wave. Crew member’s arm became trapped between the wing and the vessel.
QLD	Class 4 – Hire ‘n’ Drive	Jet ski hirer collided with another jet ski. Jet ski was damaged and the operator of the other jet ski was injured. Medevac by ambulance was required.
QLD	Class 2 – Non-Passenger	Crew member lost control of vessel in rough water conditions during berthing and collided with a recreational vessel.
NSW	Class 1 - Passenger	Crew member without a lifejacket fell overboard during berthing operations. Crew member was recovered from the water and no injuries were reported.
NSW	Class 1 - Passenger	Passenger sustained back injury during high-speed thrill ride and required medevac.
QLD	Class 2 – Non-Passenger	Vessel experienced main engine shut down while berthing following heavy contact with wharf. Minor damage to vessel and wharf.
QLD	Class 3 – Fishing (commercial)	Diver holding onto side of vessel lost grip when the crew member driving the vessel slipped. The diver was struck by propeller and required medical treatment at shore facility.
NSW	Class 2 – Non-Passenger	Crew member performing in flyboard show sustained injuries when completing a backflip. Crew member required medevac.

Last updated:

Monday 28 August 2023

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