African-Rail Ship Details and Seafarer Feedback

In a significant ruling, two crew members of the log carrier 'Funing' faced the consequences of a maritime mishap that occurred at the Port of Tauranga on July 6. The vessel, which was departing for China, experienced a power failure around 12:30 a.m., causing it to drift dangerously close to the edge of the channel, where it collided with a marker buoy at the base of Mauao. Master Liang Guang Hong and Chief Engineer Chameekara Prasad Nanayakkara entered guilty pleas in the Tauranga District Court on September 10, following charges filed by Maritime NZ under the Maritime Transport Act 1994. An investigation revealed that 'Funing' lost its power, causing it to pass over a channel marker before its propeller became entangled in a marker chain, eventually leading to contact with a sandbar in the Tauranga Harbour channel. Liang Guang Hong was charged with operating the vessel in a manner that posed unnecessary danger to others, including the crew and passengers aboard the 'Funing'. Meanwhile, Nanayakkara was found guilty of permitting the ship to be operated in a similar reckless manner. Both were fined $3,250 along with $130 in court costs, facing a maximum penalty of 12 months imprisonment or a $10,000 fine. Following a series of inspections, a fault in the fuel quantity pistons was identified. This malfunction originated when one of the engine's fuel quantity pistons displayed an error, indicating potential engine power reduction crucial for navigating the narrow harbour exit. As pointed out by maritime expert Abbott, the Chief Engineer failed to rectify the issue despite multiple tests that triggered alarms each time. In a controversial decision, the crew opted to override the vessel's automatic slow-down mechanism during engine problems as a precaution. Despite this, when the pilot boarded around midnight, the Master assured safety, presenting a pilot card with no issues listed for departure. However, as the vessel attempted to accelerate, the Chief Engineer discovered the engine was unresponsive during the transition to full power. As a result, the pilot called for tugs to assist at 12:43 a.m. Unfortunately, at 12:47 a.m., the main engine stalled after the propeller became caught with a channel marker, leading to the stern colliding with a sandbank. Tugs were able to redirect the ship into deeper waters, maintaining control until it could be towed to a safer anchorage. The 'Funing' remained there until July 14, when it was finally towed back into port. On September 6, the vessel was towed from Tauranga by the tug 'Skandi Emerald' (IMO: 9447639), which is currently en route to Singapore, with an estimated time of arrival set for October 15.

The bulk carrier 'Funing', which had been immobilized in Tauranga Harbour for over a week due to a power failure, was successfully towed into port by the offshore tug 'Pacific Runner' (IMO: 9257527) at 3:50 a.m. on July 14. As the vessel undergoes necessary repairs and investigations, the estimated timeline for completion is approximately 14 days. Preliminary dive inspections revealed damage to both the propeller and rudder. During this period, the ship's 20 crew members will remain on board, with plans for the 'Funing' to depart for Lanshan following the repairs.

On July 5, 2020, at 2:40 PM, the timber-laden vessel 'Funing' encountered a power failure while departing from Tauranga, destined for Lanshan with an onboard pilot. The crew promptly dropped anchor within the Tauranga Channel, aided by two tugboats. After approximately six hours, the ship was moved to a deeper outer anchorage at the coordinates 37° 36.53' N, 176° 11.78' E for further assessment. Divers were scheduled to inspect the vessel after concerns arose that it may have made contact with a buoy during the incident.