Photo of the wrecked Corsair pilot boat, by Lester Hunt.
A preliminary report into the October 5 grounding of the Port Phillip Sea Pilot vessel Corsair has shed more light on how the event unfolded.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), report confirms the vessel made a “slow alteration” in its course back to Queenscliff at about 11.10pm, having collected a pilot from the outgoing container ship Rio Grande. The Corsair then steadied on a course that took it directly into shallow waters off Point Lonsdale, where, travelling at around 24 knots, it struck rocks.
The report also reveals the first of several calls for help was made via a mobile phone to the crew of the sister vessel PN Nepean. This was followed by a Mayday call on VHS radio, which prompted an official search and rescue mission. The crew of three was rescued uninjured more than two hours after the grounding.
Conditions at the time included a strong ebb tide of about 5.6 knots, southwesterly winds gusting up to 26 knots and a wave height of 2.4 metres.
No preliminary findings have been made and investigations are continuing.
The ATSB to date has interviewed all relevant personnel including the Corsair crew, conducted vessel inspections and examined recordings. Ongoing investigations will include further examination of the operation of the pilot launch including bridge resource management, safety management systems and vessel data recordings.
A final report will be delivered at a later stage.
The full interim report can be found here.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), report confirms the vessel made a “slow alteration” in its course back to Queenscliff at about 11.10pm, having collected a pilot from the outgoing container ship Rio Grande. The Corsair then steadied on a course that took it directly into shallow waters off Point Lonsdale, where, travelling at around 24 knots, it struck rocks.
The report also reveals the first of several calls for help was made via a mobile phone to the crew of the sister vessel PN Nepean. This was followed by a Mayday call on VHS radio, which prompted an official search and rescue mission. The crew of three was rescued uninjured more than two hours after the grounding.
Conditions at the time included a strong ebb tide of about 5.6 knots, southwesterly winds gusting up to 26 knots and a wave height of 2.4 metres.
No preliminary findings have been made and investigations are continuing.
The ATSB to date has interviewed all relevant personnel including the Corsair crew, conducted vessel inspections and examined recordings. Ongoing investigations will include further examination of the operation of the pilot launch including bridge resource management, safety management systems and vessel data recordings.
A final report will be delivered at a later stage.
The full interim report can be found here.
