A report into an engine failure of the FMG Nicola as it departed Port Hedland has been released, with the ATSB investigating why it only learnt of the incident five months later.
An interim report into a February engine failure of the FMG Nicola as it departed Port Hedland has been released, with the ATSB also probing why it only became aware of the incident five months later due to a media report.
The incident occurred when the 327-metre bulk carrier departed its berth at Port Hedland in the afternoon of February 7, loaded with iron ore.
Around an hour into its transit out through the port's single shipping lane, while flanked by three tug boats, and travelling at a speed of 8.3 knots, the ship's main engine shut down.
Pilots tasked with guiding the ship out of the channel informed the tug boats of the propulsion loss and directed them to keep the ship in the channel while additional tugs were requested.
“Over the next half hour, the ship neared the western, and then the eastern side of the channel, before travelling along the channel’s eastern edge as it slowed gradually,” ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said.
“During this sequence, four more tugs joined the three already attending, and the pilots and tug masters collectively worked to keep the ship inside the channel.”
The ship's engineers identified the engine had shut down due to a faulty switch monitoring oil pressure, and after confirming all systems were operating normally, the engine was restarted.
The ship then continued on its journey to China.
Identified in the interim report were failures in reporting of the incident to authorities.
"A full report of the incident did not reach the ATSB at the time of the occurrence, and the ATSB only became aware of its potential seriousness after media reporting in July 2025 suggested FMG Nicola had grounded while departing Port Hedland on 7 February," Mr Mitchell said.
The day after the incident, the interim report said, the ship's local agent submitted an incident report to the Australian Maritime Safety Authorities Port Hedland office.
"The notification submitted by FMG Nicola's master via the agent regarding the loss of propulsion incident did not, at the time, reach the ATSB," Mr Mitchell said.
"The features of the Port Hedland channel make the risks associated with channel blockage high.
"A disabled ship can strand on a receding tide as well as blocking the passage of other ships. Depending on departure times, separation between ships and the location of an incident, up to 3 additional ships could be committed to, or within, the channel and exposed to this hazard at a given time."
According to the interim report, there was no record of a grounding event.
