Post on 01-Apr-2015
Transport Accident Investigation Commission
The Rena EpicTim Burfoot
Chief Investigator
I M OSOLAS
Duty to investigate
Casualty CodeInternational standards for
investigation
UNCLOS Article 2States can investigate
Accidents in own territory
UNCLOS 94(7)State must investigate
Accidents on High Seas
Participation
• State of Registry• State of Operator• Coastal State• Other coastal states affected• Nationals have lost their lives• Other States that can help
An important consideration under Chapter 10, Co-operation
. . . .having particular regards to:(e) Any differing national laws and
procedures, including those concerning confidentiality
Principal Purpose
To determine the circumstances and causes of accidents and incidents with a view to avoiding similar occurrences in the future, rather than to ascribe blame.
Section 8(e) of TAIC Act
“To co-operate and co-ordinate with other accident investigation
organizations overseas, including taking evidence on their behalf”
Container Ship Rena in New Zealand
• Grounded on Astrolabe October 2010• Ship broke up and was a total loss• Casualty occurred in New Zealand territorial
waters• Pollution from bunkers and cargo• Liberian registered• Greek ownership• Operator: an international conglomerate
Approach
• No different from usual• Find out what happened (gather the facts)• Publish Interim report (dispel rumours/tell
what happened)• Identify any early/urgent safety
recommendations (none this time)• Identify lines of inquiry (terms of reference)• Find out why it happened
GPS position fix at 0120gyro heading: 266 degreesground track: 264 degrees
GPS position fix at 0142 gyro heading: 257 degreesground track: 255 degrees
position plotted on chart after the
grounding (marked as 0200)
pencil mark made on chart by 2nd mate
Astrolabe Reef
voyage data recorder GPS position at 0200
gyro heading: 254 degreesground track: 252 degrees
voyage data recorder GPS
position at 0120
passage plan pilot station waypoint
pin-prick mark made on chart by 2nd mate
Part of chart NZ541 “Mayor Island to Okurei Point”
Sourced from Land Information New Zealand data.
Crown Copyright Reserved
NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION
passage plan waypoint north of Astrolabe Reef
Voyage data recorder GPS position
voyage data recorder GPS position at 0134
planned passage
Lines of inquiry
• Anything that arises out of early analysis within terms of reference
• Some lead nowhere• Some lead to other lines of inquiry• Some are put to the Commission by others• Are there any lessons to be learned for New
Zealand?• Are there any lessons to be learned for the wider
maritime community?