Asia-Pacific

ATSB: Crew of Chinese coal carrier neglect to change route

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-04-15 11:47

CANBERRA - The Chinese coal carrier ran aground on the Great Barrier Reef because its crew neglected to change course as planned, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau says (ATSB).

ATSB chief executive Martin Dolan said by the time the crew realized they were off course about a half hour later, it was too late.

Presenting a briefing on the initial examination of why the carrier Shen Neng 1 went aground on April 3, he said a variety of factors contributed to the mishap, Australian associated press reports Thursday.

That included the failure to program the proposed course change into to ships GPS navigation system and the fact that the ships first mate had only slept for a little over two and a half hours in the previous day and a half.

The Australian Federal Police arrested and charged two of the Shen Neng 1's crew over the incident on Wednesday.

The ship's master has been charged with liability for a vessel which caused damage to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and the chief officer-on-watch with being the person in charge of a vessel that caused damage to the park.

Both men were released on bail on Thursday morning.