Coral Sea Bulker Drifted Dangerously: ATSB Release Findings
In the early hours of 18 May 2012, while transiting the Coral Sea, ID Integrity’s main engine shut down when its fuel pump reversing mechanism came free and jammed. This caused the camshaft to bend and slip in a drive coupling which resulted in the camshaft being out of timing and therefore the engine could not be restarted. The ship drifted in a westerly direction towards the Australian coast and the Great Barrier Reef. During the afternoon of 19 May, the ship passed over Shark Reef, located about 60 miles east of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, without incident.
TITAN Salvage Opens Fourth Facility in Cairns, Australia
Team Springs into Immediate Action with Successful Rescue and Salvage of Two Stricken Vessels in Waters Surrounding Australia. To meet the needs of changing market conditions and increased commercial vessel traffic in and around the Great Barrier Reef, TITAN Salvage has established a new office and equipment depot in Cairns, Australia. The presence in the Pacific Southeast enhances the company’s marine salvage, wreck removal and emergency response capabilities in the region. With this new depot, also comes the region’s introduction to new subsidiary TITAN Maritime (Australia) Pty.
About Australia's ETV in Rescue of Disabled Bulker 'ID Integrity'
AMSA’s Thursday Island officer Adrian Davidson was on board ETV Pacific Responder when it was tasked to assist in the stabilisation and subsequent tow of the ID Integrity after it suffered engine failure in the Coral Sea on Friday 18 May. The Pacific Responder is the only designated emergency towage vessel is Australia and is located in the Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait region. When it is not required for emergency response, it is used for training and survey purposes.
Disabled Bulker Arrives Safely in Cairns
The ID Integrity lost propulsion power last Friday, about 65 nautical miles east of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park boundary and drifted towards Shark Reef until reached by tug boats on Monday morning and taken in tow to Cairns, reports Ninemsn. "No pollution or injuries to the crew were sustained during the incident, and there was no damage to either Shark Reef or the Great Barrier Reef," the company said in a statement. The company said it would investigate the breakdown. The incident sparked new calls for tougher regulation of ships in the Great Barrier Reef area. Maritime Union of Australia National Secretary Paddy Crumlin said increased sea traffic put the reef in danger."Accidents like the Shen Neng ...
