A bulk carrier narrowly avoided grounding in the Great Barrier Reef after a GPS unit onboard started providing false information, an Australian Transp

Near-Grounding Incident in Great Barrier Reef Attributed to GPS Malfunction

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2024-07-26 22:00:04

A bulk carrier narrowly avoided grounding in the Great Barrier Reef after a GPS unit onboard started providing false information, an Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) final report reveals.

The incident occurred early on the morning of May 4, 2022, when the 225-meter bulk carrier Rosco Poplar was navigating Hydrographers Passage under the guidance of a coastal pilot. Unbeknownst to the pilot and crew, one of the ship’s three GPS units began outputting incorrect positional data, likely due to an antenna malfunction.

This malfunction caused the ship’s incorrect position to be displayed on all navigational equipment, including the electronic chart display and information system, radars, and automatic identification system. As the vessel came within 200 meters of Bond Reef, where a normal clearance would be about 1,500 meters, the pilot suddenly noticed a reef sector light indicating red, followed by an alert from the ship’s electronic navigational equipment.

The pilot immediately ordered a heading change, steering the ship away from the reef. The remaining journey continued without further incidents.