Australia’s transport safety watchdog is investigating both new Spirit of Tasmania ferries following two incidents, one involving a trial voyage and another during a passenger crossing.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) began its investigation after the Spirit of Tasmania V encountered issues on October 24. The ferry was on a trial voyage from Geelong to Devonport, a week before the new ferries started carrying paying passengers. During a turn, the autopilot was slow to respond. After adjustments, the ferry turned more quickly, and the autopilot could not stop the turn. The crew switched to manual steering, but the ferry briefly went outside both sides of the marked channel before being brought to a stop and continuing to Devonport.
The ATSB is also investigating an incident aboard the Spirit of Tasmania IV on November 5. While approaching Port Phillip Bay on a crossing from Devonport to Geelong, the ferry’s steering wheel stopped responding as the crew switched from autopilot to manual control. The crew used emergency steering to bring a harbour pilot aboard and called off the initial approach to Port Phillip Bay while engineers investigated. The crew then used separate steering levers on the bridge to continue to Geelong, arriving about four hours late. A tug escorted the ferry through the shipping channel as a precaution.
TT-Line chair Ken Kanofski told ABC Radio on Monday that the tug did not have to intervene. He said an inspection in Geelong found a “frustratingly minor issue” in Spirit IV’s steering console, which was fixed. The ferry sailed again on the evening of November 5 without incident. Mr Kanofski stated it was too early to say if the incidents were linked, though information suggested they were unrelated. He added that both ferries are now being steered manually through Port Phillip Bay but still use autopilot in open water across Bass Strait.
The ATSB will examine voyage recordings, equipment, and records from both ships, and interview crew and others involved. The investigation is expected to be completed between April and June next year. The two new ferries began carrying paying passengers late last month.