Ship master’s inexperience caused bridge crash

The Spirit of Resolution smashed into the old Mangere Bridge last October. Picture / Herald on Sunday

The master of a cargo vessel that hit the old Mangere Bridge in Auckland should not have sailed in the storm conditions, an accident investigation report has found.

The 3850-tonne Spirit of Resolution container ship crashed into the old Mangere Bridge last October after being caught by a wind gust while being moved by tug to deeper water. It had 11 crew on board at the time.

Maritime New Zealand said in the accident investigation report released yesterday that there had been difficulties manoeuvring vessels in Manukau Harbour, particularly in heavy weather, but the master should not have sailed in that day's conditions.

He will now be required to use a pilot on board until he undergoes further training.

Due to bad weather - combined with the fact the vessel had to swing through an arc of 180 degrees when leaving Onehunga wharf in order to navigate the channel - the master had ordered a tug.

Informed that the Manukau Bar was closed because of rough conditions, he then planned to sail from Onehunga to an anchorage near Big Bay in Manukau Harbour until conditions improved.

He decided just after the scheduled departure time of 1pm that the wind had increased significantly and decided to abandon the departure and return the vessel alongside the berth.

However, the strength of the wind stopped him from doing this. Combined with the incoming flood tide, it was too strong for the tug to counteract and the Resolution was set rapidly towards the old Mangere Bridge.

The Resolution hit the bridge at 1.12pm.

The report said it supported the work being done by the Auckland Regional harbourmaster and Ports of Auckland to help masters around Onehunga wharf.

This included developing guidelines to determine whether it was safe to sail in marginal weather conditions; upgrading and repositioning the anemometer (wind device) and identifying the area's risks in the development of the Port and Harbour Safety Code.

The collision was the fourth reported since 1998 in which vessels had hit the old Mangere Bridge while manoeuvring off the Onehunga wharf. Three had occurred during high wind and the other was the result of a mechanical failure.

The report found the master should not have sailed in the weather but his decision was based on his lack of knowledge and/or experience of having to turn the vessel off the berth in bad weather.

- NZPA