Overview Australia has a very safe transport system in international terms across all modes However, major accidents are low probability, high consequence events and we can never afford to be complacent Human factors associated with well-known human performance continue to dominate Systemic investigations remain crucial but pro-active reporting and data analysis also provide for evidence-based risk reduction.

Spoken by Mr Kym Bills, Executive Director, Australian Transport Safety Bureau 23 July 2007

The ATSB has found that the tanker, Dampier Spirit, did not have sufficient speed to safely evade a cyclone that was approaching the coast of Western Australia after its mooring hawser failed on 6 April 2006. Dampier Spirit is a floating storage and offloading tanker for the Stag oil platform near Dampier, Western Australia, that is usually attached to a mooring buoy one nautical mile from the platform. At the time of the incident, the 106 668 tonne tanker had a partial load of about 12 100 tonnes of crude oil on board. At 0958 on 6 April 2006, the ship was forced to put to sea as Cyclone…

The ATSB has found that a fire on board the Singapore registered ship Java Sea on 24 May 2005 started when hot pressurised thermal oil, possibly in the form of a spray, came into contact with an un-lagged section of the thermal oil heater exhaust piping. The fire was further fuelled by the contents of oil storage tanks located near the seat of the fire. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation found that the fixed fire extinguishing system was ineffective in extinguishing the fire because the ship's crew could not close the funnel casing ventilation dampers; the diesel generator…

On 1 March 2003, the Government of Timor Leste released its Preliminary Report into the fatal aircraft accident near Baucau on 31 January 2003. At the request of the Government of Timor Leste, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has today posted this preliminary report on its web site. The Ilyushin IL-76TD aircraft impacted the ground near Cakung Airport, Baucau, during a landing approach. All six crew on board were fatally injured in the crash. ATSB Deputy Director, Air Safety, Alan Stray said the investigation was continuing. At the request of the Government of Timor Leste, the…

A media conference discussing the circumstances of the Bell 206B Jetranger Helicopter that crashed while undertaking water bombing operations during the Canberra Bush Fires of January 2003 will be held at 11.00 am today. Who: Mr Alan Stray (Deputy Director, Air Safety Investigation)When: 16 December 2003 (1100 ESuT)Where: ATSB Headquarters (15 Mort Street, Canberra City) The report will then be available on the website www.atsb.gov.au. Note: Media are requested to assemble in the foyer at 15 Mort Street 15 minutes prior to the conference, from where they will be escorted to the conference…

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau will be conducting a media interview on the fatal aircraft accident at Bankstown Airport involving a Piper Seneca, VH-CTT. Who: Ian Brokenshire (Investigator in Charge)When: 12 November 2003, 1600 ESuTWhere: Near the Aviation Museum on Perimeter Rd, Bankstown Airport. Nearest major intersection is Milperra Rd / Henry Lawson Drive, turn off Henry Lawson Drive into Tower Rd. (Tower Rd leads to Perimeter Rd.)

Speech delivered to Safeskies 07 Conference in Canberra, ACT on The ATSB perspective on Safety Management Systems in Australia by Mr Kym Bills, Executive Director, Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

The ATSB has found that there was no effective lookout being maintained on board either a fishing vessel or a bulk carrier when the two vessels collided off the South Australian coast on 23 April 2007, the latest in more than 50 such collisions investigated. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation again found that the fishing vessel was possibly difficult to detect, either visually or by radar, because of its timber construction, lack of a radar reflector, paint scheme and the prevailing weather conditions. On the morning of 23 April, the Australian fishing vessel Peter Crombie…

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau's supplementary investigation report into the fatal accident involving Whyalla Airlines Piper Chieftain registration VH-MZK on 31 May 2000 is expected to be tabled in the Senate before Question Time today. The report includes a detailed response to the South Australian State Coroner's critical findings on 24 July 2003. After the tabling, ATSB Executive Director Kym Bills will address the media at 1.00pm today on key aspects of the Bureaus report. Mr Bills will then be available for questions. Who: ATSB Executive Director, Mr Kym Bills.…