200809 Grounding due to distraction

Official Report (Source: IMO Sub-Committee of Flag State Implementation - Eleventh Session)

While operating along the inner route of the Great Barrier Reef off Australia, the OOW of a cargo vessel was distracted from his duties and missed a planned course change waypoint. As a result, the vessel ran hard aground on a charted reef at approximately 20 knots. Extensive damage was done to the ship's bottom and the reef.

Root cause/contributory factors
The OOW was distracted from his duties by the presence of his wife on the bridge and by making personal telephone calls;
The OOW's routine delegation of navigational duties to the lookout on watch, including position fixing and plotting;
Failure of the lookout to notify the OOW of the vessel's position, the course change and proximity to danger;
The OOW and his wife isolated themselves on the starboard bridge wing due in part to the noise of the lookout vacuuming the bridge.

Lessons learnt
The dangers of allowing non-watch standers to be present on the bridge particularly when a vessel is operating in confined waters.
The importance of good bridge resource management, teamwork and communications.
Watchkeepers should not be distracted by activities not related to their primary task of watchkeeping.