Transport Accident Investigation Commission

The Rena EpicTim Burfoot

Chief Investigator

I M OSOLAS

Duty to investigate

Casualty CodeInternational standards for

investigation

UNCLOS Article 2States can investigate

Accidents in own territory

UNCLOS 94(7)State must investigate

Accidents on High Seas

Participation

• State of Registry• State of Operator• Coastal State• Other coastal states affected• Nationals have lost their lives• Other States that can help

An important consideration under Chapter 10, Co-operation

. . . .having particular regards to:(e) Any differing national laws and

procedures, including those concerning confidentiality

Principal Purpose

To determine the circumstances and causes of accidents and incidents with a view to avoiding similar occurrences in the future, rather than to ascribe blame.

Section 8(e) of TAIC Act

“To co-operate and co-ordinate with other accident investigation

organizations overseas, including taking evidence on their behalf”

Container Ship Rena in New Zealand

• Grounded on Astrolabe October 2010• Ship broke up and was a total loss• Casualty occurred in New Zealand territorial

waters• Pollution from bunkers and cargo• Liberian registered• Greek ownership• Operator: an international conglomerate

Approach

• No different from usual• Find out what happened (gather the facts)• Publish Interim report (dispel rumours/tell

what happened)• Identify any early/urgent safety

recommendations (none this time)• Identify lines of inquiry (terms of reference)• Find out why it happened

GPS position fix at 0120gyro heading: 266 degreesground track: 264 degrees

GPS position fix at 0142 gyro heading: 257 degreesground track: 255 degrees

position plotted on chart after the

grounding (marked as 0200)

pencil mark made on chart by 2nd mate

Astrolabe Reef

voyage data recorder GPS position at 0200

gyro heading: 254 degreesground track: 252 degrees

voyage data recorder GPS

position at 0120

passage plan pilot station waypoint

pin-prick mark made on chart by 2nd mate

Part of chart NZ541 “Mayor Island to Okurei Point”

Sourced from Land Information New Zealand data.

Crown Copyright Reserved

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION

passage plan waypoint north of Astrolabe Reef

Voyage data recorder GPS position

voyage data recorder GPS position at 0134

planned passage

Lines of inquiry

• Anything that arises out of early analysis within terms of reference

• Some lead nowhere• Some lead to other lines of inquiry• Some are put to the Commission by others• Are there any lessons to be learned for New

Zealand?• Are there any lessons to be learned for the wider

maritime community?