Quarter 2 April - June 2026
There were 256 reported incidents involving domestic commercial vessels in Quarter 2 of 2026. Of these, 35 were serious and 1 very serious.
- In April, 87 reported marine incidents were received, 12 were serious.
- In May, 88 reported marine incidents were received, 13 were serious and 1 very serious.
- In June, 81 reported marine incidents were received, 10 were serious.
Very serious and serious incidents containing sensitive information or information that may identify individual persons or vessels have not been included below.
April
| State | Vessel type | Incident |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | Class 1 | Vessel experienced an engine room fire while underway. The crew extinguished the fire using the vessel's fixed firefighting system, and the vessel returned safely to port. No injuries were reported. |
| NSW | Class 1 | Vessel became grounded after contacting a ramp during berthing. The vessel remained stranded until the next high tide, approximately eight hours later. No injuries or damage were reported. |
| NSW | Class 2 | Vessel undertook evasive action to avoid another watercraft and a crew member fell overboard. The crew member recovered with no injuries reported. |
| NSW | Class 2 | A crew member responding to a bilge alarm fell through an open maintenance hatch. The crew member sustained a serious leg injury and was transported to hospital for treatment. |
| NSW | Class 3 | Vessel experienced a total loss of electrical power and subsequently drifted overnight. Multiple towing operations were required to bring the vessel to a safe location. No injuries were reported. |
| QLD | Class 1 | Passenger fell overboard while the vessel was underway. The passenger was recovered and sustained minor injuries. |
| QLD | Class 2 | Two divers failed to surface as expected, prompting a search and rescue operation. Both divers were located and recovered after an extended period in the water. |
| QLD | Class 2 | A vessel caught fire while berthed in a marina. The fire was extinguished by emergency services, and pollution containment measures were implemented. No injuries were reported. |
| QLD | Class 2 | Vessel grounded following deviation from the intended route. The vessel was unable to refloat independently and required towing assistance. No damage was reported. |
| QLD | Class 3 | Vessel experienced an accommodation fire while underway. |
| QLD | Class 4 | Two persons were thrown from a personal watercraft during a tour. Both sustained injuries, with one requiring a medivac. |
| VIC | Class 2 | Vessel collided with an anchored vessel during hours of darkness, and the anchored vessel capsized. Two persons entered the water and were recovered immediately with no injuries reported. The capsized vessel was recovered and towed to shore. |
May
Very serious
| State | Vessel type | Incident |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | Class 2 | A rescue vessel responding to a vessel in distress experienced a loss of propulsion and subsequently capsized. Two crew members were found deceased, and multiple others sustained serious injuries requiring hospital treatment. |
Serious
| State | Vessel type | Incident |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | Class 2 | A rescue vessel conducting a training exercise lost propulsion after being impacted by a wave during a beaching manoeuvre. The vessel subsequently lost control and was pushed broadside by waves. During recovery efforts, a volunteer sustained a serious head injury and was transported to hospital for treatment. |
| QLD | Class 1 | Passenger fell into the water while disembarking from a transfer vessel. A second passenger entered the water to assist. Both were recovered safely and no injuries were reported. |
| QLD | Class 1 | A vessel experienced a loss of gearbox control while manoeuvring in a marina and subsequently made contact with a jetty. No injuries were reported. |
| QLD | Class 2 | Vessel shipped water over the bow and subsequently pitched forward. Two crew members wearing lifejackets entered the water. No injuries were reported. |
| QLD | Class 2 | Two vessels collided. One person sustained a minor injury. No vessel damage was reported. |
| QLD | Class 3 | Vessel rolled and sank after onboard equipment shifted. No further information provided. |
| QLD | Class 3 | A crew member sustained a broken leg following a fall on board a fishing vessel. The crew member required a medivac for treatment. |
| TAS | Class 2 | A crew member sustained a hand injury while loading trailers on board a vessel. The crew member was transported to hospital. |
| VIC | Class 3 | A crew member became caught by the anchor rope while hauling an anchor and sustained an ankle injury. |
| WA | Class 1 | During deployment of a recovery platform, a crew member lost balance and fell into the water. |
| WA | Class 2 | Vessel flooded and sank while berthed in its pen. EPIRB was activated. The vessel was later found submerged in the harbour. No injuries were reported. |
| WA | Class 2 | A passenger fell overboard while the vessel was stationary inside a restricted area. The passenger was recovered immediately with assistance from crew. No injuries were reported. |
| WA | Class 2 | Tug made heavy contact with a ship and sustained damage during towing operations after being displaced by a swell. |
June
| State | Vessel type | Incident |
|---|---|---|
| QLD | Class 1 | Vessel lost propulsion and drifted onto a reef following a mechanical failure while manoeuvring. The vessel was later refloated and towed to a marina. No injuries were reported. |
| QLD | Class 2 | Tug experienced a port engine failure while conducting a barge transit. The barge was secured, and a replacement tug completed the operation. |
| QLD | Class 3 | Vessel reported an engine room fire and transmitted a Mayday. The two persons on board abandoned to a dinghy while emergency response assets were activated. |
| QLD | Class 4 | Vessel lost steering while underway and was towed to a safe location. Subsequent inspection identified failure of the rudder assembly. No injuries were reported. |
| QLD | Class 4 | Vessel sank while berthed in a marina. A minor oil sheen was reported, and salvage operations were undertaken to refloat the vessel for inspection and repair. |
| SA | Class 2 | Vessel caught fire and sustained significant damage while work activities were being undertaken on board. One crew member sustained burn injuries and entered the water before being transported to hospital for treatment. The remaining crew safely evacuated the vessel. |
| VIC | Class 3 | Vessel reported significant water ingress while fishing. Emergency response assets were activated and escorted the vessel safely to port. |
| WA | Class 2 | A crew member fell overboard while removing a fender from a vessel underway. The crew member was recovered with no injuries reported. |
| WA | Class 2 | A crew member fell into the water while boarding a vessel from a floating jetty. The crew member was recovered using the vessel’s recovery ladder with no injuries. |
| WA | Class 2 | A deckhand sustained a hand injury while handling a mooring line during berthing operations. |
- Quater 1 January - March 2026
There were 336 reported incidents involving domestic commercial vessels in Quarter 1 of 2026. Of these, 45 were serious and 1 very serious.
- In January,128 reported marine incidents were received, 19 were serious and 1 very serious.
- In February, 91 reported marine incidents were received, 12 were serious.
- In March, 117 marine incidents were reported, 14 were serious.
Very serious and serious incidents containing sensitive information or information that may identify individual persons or vessels have not been included below.
January
Very serious incidents
State Vessel type Incident NSW Class 2 Vessel was underway as water ingress was discovered in the bilge. All crew boarded the life raft and the vessel sank. Serious incidents
State Vessel type Incident NSW Class 1 Vessel made contact with the wharf during approach. Master and passenger both sustained injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment. NSW Class 4 Passenger struck head on the tender motor after a wave rocked the vessel. Passenger was taken to hospital for treatment. NT Class 2 Crew member slipped on a pontoon while the vessel was berthed and fell into the water. Crew member was wearing a lifejacket and immediately recovered. No injuries were reported. QLD Class 1 Crew member fell as the vessel was underway striking their back. Crew received medivac to hospital for assessment. QLD Class 1 Crew member sustained a crush injury to their hand while changing a fuel pump on the starboard forward main engine. QLD Class 1 Crew member sustained a crush injury to their hand whilst completing maintenance work as vessel experienced movement in a small swell. QLD Class 1 Starboard main engine propulsion was lost while approaching the inlet and was restored by manual throttle input after a battery failure. QLD Class 2 Crew member was assisting on a pilot ladder as a large wave struck. Crew member fell onto the deck of the pilot vessel and was transferred to hospital for treatment. QLD Class 2 A lithium‑ion battery exploded while the vessel was underway. One crew sustained burns to the arm, while a second crew was uninjured. Vessel sustained fire and smoke damage. QLD Class 2 Passenger fell from a jet ski after striking a wave during a guided tour. The passenger received a medevac to hospital for treatment. QLD Class 2 Crew member fell overboard during a rescue operation when a wave struck the vessel. The crew member was wearing a lifejacket and was recovered. A second crew member sustained a hand injury during the recovery. QLD Class 2 Vessel took on water requiring crew to abandon ship. Water Police rescued the two crew and the vessel was recovered. No injuries or damage reported. QLD Class 4 A recreational vessel collided with a jet ski while underway after failing to give way. Both jet ski occupants entered the water wearing lifejackets. No injuries or damage reported. Vic Class 2 Crew member sustained a partial amputation to their thumb when it was caught between a bollard and a tie‑up rope during berthing. The crew member was transported to hospital for treatment. WA Class 1 Passenger fell overboard during a ship‑to‑ship transfer. The passenger was wearing a lifejacket and recovered with no injuries. WA Class 1 While underway, the vessel yawed down a wave and collided with a starboard lateral marker. Temporary repairs were completed. WA Class 2 Crew member slipped from a gangway during a ship‑to‑ship transfer and entered the water. The seafarer was recovered by a second vessel after initial recovery attempts were unsuccessful. WA Class 2 Vessel lost starboard thruster power due to a loose connection, resulting in a collision with another vessel. Repairs were completed, and the vessel was returned to service. WA Class 4 Four people became stranded at sea on hired kayaks and paddleboards. One child swam approximately four kilometres to shore for assistance. The remaining persons were recovered, and the child was treated for exhaustion. February
State Vessel type Incident NSW Class 1 Recreational vessel collided with sailing vessel while tacking. The collision occurred at approximately 5 knots, resulting in structural damage to both vessels. No injuries or persons overboard reported. NSW Class 1 Vessel experienced a control failure while underway. The vessel returned to port and passengers were disembarked. NT Class 1 Vessel grounded during delayed crane operations and a falling tide despite under‑keel clearance monitoring. Attempts to refloat the vessel were unsuccessful. NT Class 2 Salt water entered No. 7 freshwater tank, and the vessel developed a port list. The source of the water ingress has not been determined. NT Class 2 Vessel was underway as the second generators power output began fluctuating. During disengagement the generator began sparking, producing heat and smoke. A CO2 extinguisher was deployed and crew received monitoring for smoke inhalation. QLD Class 1 A pontoon was torn from the riverbank, carrying three moored vessels downstream. One vessel capsized and was later salvaged. QLD Class 2 Vessel was struck by rogue wave. Master was thrown overboard and recovered safely. QLD Class 2 Vessel experienced a steering failure resulting in loss of control. The vessel was towed back to port. QLD Class 2 Crew member received crush injury to thumb while letting go lines during departure from berth. Crew member transported to hospital for treatment. SA Class 2 Vessel collided the port bow of a barge during an assist operation and subsequently capsized. The operator entered the water wearing a lifejacket and was recovered uninjured. WA Class 1 Vessel made contact with a bombie and sustained hull damage. Temporary repairs were completed. WA Class 3 Vessel struck a small reef and began taking on water. A salvage operation was required. March
State Vessel type Incident NT Class 2 Vessel made repeated contact with the wharf fendering during a weather event. Starboard gunwale received significant damage. QLD Class 1 Vessel broke free from its mooring and struck a ferry travelling upstream. The upstream cable was damaged, and the ferry was displaced from the embankment. QLD Class 1 Vessel experienced a total loss of propulsion during battery isolation. The vessel made low‑speed contact with a bridge. Minor hull damage sustained. QLD Class 1 Vessel grounded while embarking passengers and could not be refloated. Passengers were disembarked. The engine later failed and the vessel remained aground on the outgoing tide. QLD Class 2 Vessel became grounded on a reef whilst departing channel and was unable to refloat without assistance. QLD Class 2 Vessel became grounded on a sand bank at low tide in a river. Another vessel assisted in refloating the vessel. QLD Class 3 A dory capsized, resulting in a crew member entering the water. The crew member clinging to the overturned vessel was rescued, and no medical or further assistance was required. QLD Class 3 Crew member fell overboard during anchor retrieval after water was taken over the bow. The crew member was wearing a lifejacket. QLD Class 3 Vessels outboard engine caught fire while at anchor. Fire extinguishers were deployed and crew entered the water. All crew were wearing lifejackets and recovered by a passing vessel. VIC Class 2 While conducting a man overboard drill using a buoy, a crew member fell overboard. The crew member was wearing a lifejacket and recovered with minor injuries. WA Class 2 Crew member fell overboard whilst transferring from the vessel to the barge it was secured to. Crew member was wearing a lifejacket and retrieved themselves from the water. No injuries reported. WA Class 2 Crew member received an electric shock to their hand and forearm while washing down the vessel alongside. WA Class 3 JRCC Australia received an EPIRB activation from the vessel. The sole occupant was recovered from a life raft after the vessel sank. No injuries were reported.
Last updated: 27 August 2026