An ATSB interim report details the sequence of events leading to and following a bulk carrier's loss of propulsion in a channel when departing Port Hedland.
The ongoing investigation's interim report notes that the 327-m Singapore-flagged bulk carrier FMG Nicola departed its berth at Port Hedland early in the afternoon of 7 February 2025, fully laden with iron ore.
The ship was conducted out of the harbour by two harbour pilots, and four tugs were secured to assist.
About an hour into the ship's transit of Port Hedland's single shipping channel, travelling at about 8.3 knots with two tugs still secured and a third nearby, the ship's main engine suddenly shut down.
The pilot informed the tug masters of the propulsion loss and directed them to help keep the ship in the channel. The pilot then notified vessel traffic service of the emergency and requested additional tugs.
"Over the next half hour, the ship neared the western, and then the eastern side of the channel, before travelling along the channel's eastern edge as it slowed gradually," ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said.
"During this sequence, four more tugs joined the three already attending, and the pilots and tug masters collectively worked to keep the ship inside the channel."
Meanwhile, the ship's engineers identified the engine had shut down due to a faulty switch monitoring the main engine's lubricating oil pressure. After confirming all engine systems were operating normally, the trip lockout system was reset, and the engine was restarted at dead slow ahead.
About 35 minutes after the shutdown, the ship had been moved away from the channel side, and its main engine speed had progressively been increased to full ahead.
The tugs continued escorting the ship out of the channel towards open water, and the ship then continued its passage to Dongjiakou, China.
During the passage to China, the crew inspected all ballast tanks on the ship's starboard side and found no physical damage.
Later inspections, including an underwater survey by divers, found no evidence of damage and that the hull paint was intact.
Mr Mitchell noted that the investigation is ongoing, but that the ATSB had released the interim report to provide timely information to industry on its progress to date.
"As it progresses the ATSB investigation will include examination and analysis of the collected evidence, including the event sequence, corroborating data, ship track and position, and the response to the incident," he said
The investigation will also look further into the reporting of the incident to authorities.
"A full report of the incident did not reach the ATSB at the time of the occurrence, and the ATSB only became aware of its potential seriousness after media reporting in July 2025 suggested FMG Nicola had grounded while departing Port Hedland on 7 February," Mr Mitchell said.
On the morning after the incident, the interim report details, the ship's local agent submitted the appropriate incident reports, including to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority's local office in Port Hedland.
"The notifications submitted by FMG Nicola's master via the agent regarding the loss of propulsion incident did not, at that time, reach the ATSB," Mr Mitchell noted.
A final report, to be released at the conclusion of the investigation, will detail the ATSB's analysis and findings.
"The features of the Port Hedland channel make the risks associated with channel blockage high," Mr Mitchell concluded.
"A disabled ship can strand on a receding tide as well as blocking the passage of other ships. Depending on departure times, separation between ships and the location of an incident, up to 3 additional ships could be committed to, or within, the channel and exposed to this hazard at a given time."
You can find here the interim report: Propulsion failure of FMG Nicola, Port Hedland, Western Australia, on 7 February 2025
