A near-miss incident off the coast of Newcastle, Australia has triggered an investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), after a large bulk carrier lost propulsion and drifted dangerously close to shore.
The vessel involved, the Basic Victory, is a Marshall Islands–registered bulker built in 2021 in the Philippines. The ship had been waiting offshore to berth when, at about 8:00 a.m. on July 30, its main engine failed. Without power, the vessel began drifting southwards toward land, closing the distance to within just three miles of the coastline by late afternoon.
Newcastle is among the busiest ports in Australia, handling over 4,400 ship movements annually and more than 152 million tonnes of cargo, making such a situation particularly concerning. The master quickly informed Newcastle’s vessel traffic service and requested anchorage approval.
Fortunately, before emergency anchoring was required, the crew managed to restore propulsion, allowing the bulker to regain safe distance from the coast. The vessel later berthed at Newcastle on August 7, where investigators boarded to conduct interviews, review voyage data, and collect supporting documents.
After completing repairs, the Basic Victory resumed operations, departing on August 9 for Japan, where it is expected to arrive shortly.
Australia is widely recognized for its stringent enforcement of maritime safety standards. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has previously barred vessels from national waters for repeated safety failures or incomplete repairs. ATSB has confirmed that if any systemic risks are uncovered during its inquiry, stakeholders including the operator and port authorities will be informed immediately so corrective action can be taken.