Article

Master and Chief Engineer plead guilty in MV Funing case


published on 22 September 2020 226 -

Text and photo by Maritime NZ

The Master and Chief Engineer of the log-carrier MV Funing, have today been sentenced and fined after admitting charges relating to the grounding of the ship at the Port of Tauranga in July.

Master Liang Guang Hong and Chief Engineer Chameekara Prasad Nanayakkara both entered guilty pleas in the Tauranga District Court on 10 September to charges brought by Maritime NZ under the Maritime Transport Act (MTA) 1994. This followed an investigation by Maritime NZ after the Singapore-registered ship lost power and passed over a channel marker with the propeller becoming caught in the markerchain, before making contact with a sand bar in the Tauranga Harbour channel.

The Master was fined $3250.00 fine and ordered to pay $130.00 court costs, after pleading guilty to one charge under Section 65(1)(a) of the MTA, of operating the vessel “in a manner which caused unnecessary danger or risk to other persons or property, including the passengers and crew of the MV Funing.

The Chief Engineer also admitted one charge under section 65(2)(a) of the MTA, for causing or permitting the ship to be “operated, maintained, or serviced, in a manner that caused unnecessary danger or risk to any other persons or property, including the passengers and crew of the MV Funing”. He was also fined $3250 and ordered to pay $130 court costs.

The maximum penalty for both charges was 12 months’ imprisonment or a $10,000 fine.

Michael-Paul Abbott, Maritime NZ’s Central Region Compliance Manager said, “following a series of checks on the engine of the Funing prior to its departure from the Port of Tauranga, a problem was found with the fuel quantity pistons. At this time, the wind was gusting 15 to 30 knots (28-56 kph) with the wave height approaching 4 metres and rain had reduced visibility”.

“The problem started when one of the engine’s fuel quantity pistons indicated an error, which means that if this isn’t addressed, the engine’s power will be reduced – which is power it needs when exiting the narrow harbour entrance.”

In the hours leading up to the engine failure, the Chief Engineer tested the affected parts a number of times, each time triggering an alarm suggesting the problem had not been rectified. The decision was then made to override the mechanism that automatically slows down the vessel in the event of a problem with the engine, as an attempted precautionary measure.

“The Pilot subsequently came aboard around midnight and the master handed him the Pilot Card which indicated that there were no issues affecting a safe departure. But as the ship tried to increase speed on leaving Port, the Chief Engineer realised there was still a problem with one of the fuel quantity pistons and that the engine was not responding with the shift to ‘full ahead’ (full power). The Pilot asked the Master several times why the ship was going slowly, but did not receive a clear explanation,” Mr Abbott said.

“As a result, the No. 2 engine cylinder lost all power, and during this time the wind and swell had increased. At 0043 hours the Pilot called the tug boats to come and assist and the Master ordered the anchor to be dropped. At 0047 hours the main engine stopped after the propeller became entangled with the channel marker while the stern swung around and came into contact with the sand bank.

“The tugs then turned the vessel into the deeper channel water and held it there until it could be towed into safer anchorage. There it remained until 14 July when it was towed into port.”

Mr Abbott said the Maritime investigation and subsequent prosecution proved that the Master knew there was an issue with the main engine prior to departure and failed to notify the Pilot that there was a problem.

The Chief Engineer was also proven to have failed to retest the main engine to ensure it was operating on all 5 cylinders after attending to the fuel quantity piston error.

The Funing is currently being towed back to Singapore which is expected to take around 40 days.
What's your opinion on this?
Login or register to write comments and join the discussion!
Read more...

Video Pilot Boats Australia & New Zealand December 2017 - January 2018

published on 11 November 2020

Pilot Boats assisting Holland America Line cruise ship MS Maasdam on Australia - New Zealand cruise December 19 2017 - January 5 2018.

0

Opinion Pilot safety: a crucial component of navigation safety

by MS Amlin Marine - published on 22 October 2024

The latest MS Amlin Marine circular, compiled by theTechnical Loss Prevention Consultant Peter van der Kroft, focuses on the importance of pilot safety in marine navigation.

0

Article Port Of Cromarty Firth Marine Support Manager ‘Honoured’ To Join UK Harbour Masters’ Association’s National Council

published on 3 September 2021

Graham Grant, the Port of Cromarty Firth’s Marine Support Manager, has been appointed to the National Council of the UK Harbour Masters’ Association (UKHMA).

0

Article Navigation alternative in the event of GNSS failure due to jamming or spoofing

by TRENZ GmbH - published on 7 April 2025

What happens when GNSS fails? In maritime navigation, this isn’t a hypothetical scenario – it’s a growing risk. Spoofing, jamming, and GNSS outages are increasing, especially in the Baltic Sea region. A failure can cripple navigation systems – with potentially serious consequences.

1

Article Information for Marine Pilots about novel coronavirus by Australian Government

by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 10 February 2020

An information sheet for marine pilots about novel coronavirus. Published by the Australian Government - Department of Health

0

Video Pilot Boat "Amber" - PB200 BY UZMAR

published on 27 November 2021

PORT QASIM LİMANI PIL0T BOT PROJESİ / KARAÇİ - PAKİSTAN PORT QASIM PORT PILOT BOAT PROJECT / KARACHI - PAKISTAN PİLOT BOT AMBER / PB2000 GÖVDE TİPİ /HULL TYPE: TEK GÖVDELİ /MONO HULL TAM BOY /LOA :20,50 m GENİŞLİK /BEAM :5,50 m MAKSİMUM HIZ / MAX. SPEED :23 Deniz Mili / 23 kts İNŞA MALZEMESİ /BUILDING MATERIAL :Çelik / Steel SEVK SİSTEMİ /PROPULSION SYSTEM :Sabit Kanatlı Pervane / Fix Pitch Propulsion

0

Video Presentation of manned ship models at Port Revel Shiphandling Training Centre

published on 24 October 2019

Port Revel is used for shiphandling training of maritime pilots, masters and officers on a 5 ha lake with 11 manned model ships representing 20 vessels, and 4 tugs at scale 1:25 and DGPS tracking system. Instructors are former maritime pilots.
Training on the scale models provides experience that could never be gained on real ships for the simple reason that neither ship-owners nor local authorities would allow such risks to be taken. Scale models allow the shiphandler to make mistakes....

0