The Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Cape Falcon is still aground off Gladstone in Queensland, Australia, after two attempts to refloat it failed.
The incident took place at about 3:42 p.m. on Friday, September 18, while the ship was trying to anchor at the bunkering anchorage.
The vessel was about six nautical miles east of the Port of Gladstone. There have been no reported injuries, hull damage or pollution.
Maritime Safety Queensland, which operates under Transport and Main Roads (TMR), is handling the recovery work.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has detained the ship while it checks whether the vessel is seaworthy.
The ship is not blocking the main shipping channel. However, its grounding has affected port operations.
Two attempts have been made to refloat the vessel.
The second attempt took place on Saturday during high tide, from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Ten harbour tugs were used, but they managed to move the vessel only slightly.
A TMR spokesperson said the ship would stay aground while more advice was sought on how to move it safely.
The first attempt to refloat the ship also failed. Six vessels were involved in that operation, while 10 harbour tugs took part in the second attempt.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has started an investigation into the grounding.
An ATSB team arrived in Gladstone on Tuesday morning. Investigators will speak to the crew and collect evidence from the vessel.
They will preserve data from the ship’s voyage data recorder and collect other information, including ship-tracking data, weather records and crew, operator and maintenance records.
The ATSB said it is not involved in the recovery work.
The bureau expects to release a preliminary report in about two months. Its final report will include the investigation findings and the evidence behind them.
If investigators find a serious safety issue, the ATSB said it will inform the relevant parties so they can take action.
Marine traffic records show that Cape Falcon left the Hay Point Terminal near Mackay on the day before the grounding.
The ship arrived in Australia earlier this month after travelling to Shanghai and Jiangyin in China. It also arrived at the Port Dalrymple terminal in Tasmania.
It later headed towards Gladstone, where it ran aground while trying to anchor at the bunkering anchorage.
Gladstone Ports Corporation operates the terminal. The port handles large volumes of coal, liquefied natural gas, alumina and other bulk commodities.
The ship was built in 2022. It is 292 metres long and 45 metres wide, with a deadweight capacity of 182,066 tonnes.
The Capesize bulk carrier is registered in Liberia.
The vessel is owned by Japanese joint-registered company Marugame Kisen Kaisha and La Darien Navegacion SA. The companies own 14 vessels, including container ships, bulk carriers and tankers.
References: ABC News, Baird Maritime