Recovery of debris from container vessel “YM Efficiency”
On Friday 1 June 2018 the container vessel YM Efficiency carrying 2252 containers reported the loss of 81 containers overboard, with an additional 59 containers damaged on board. At the time, the ship was offshore from the Central Coast of NSW.
Debris location map
Click on image for a full screen view
 
Public safety
We encourage members of the public to stay away from debris for safety reasons.
If you see any debris, it is very important not to touch it or attempt to clean it up. The cargo is from overseas and still subject to Australian Quarantine provisions. Contractors are working right along the coast to clean up the debris which will be placed in local skip bins and shipped directly to a disposal facility.
Media releases
- 12 June 2018 - Media release - Next steps considered in NSW clean up effort
- Navigation Warning - Offshore waters of NSW, Newcastle to Yamba - Shipping containers lost
- 8 June 2018 - Media release - Yoga mats wash up in Coffs Harbour as container debris clean up continues
- 7 June 2018 - Media release - New locations emerge in the ongoing clean up of mid north coast
- 6 June 2018 - Media release - Rubbish retrieval vessel transferred from Sydney to Port Stephens for day six of container clean up
- 5 June 2018 - Media release - Divers and boats join official clean up of container debris on mid north coast
- 4 June 2018 - Media release - Clean up effort well under way after container ship spill of NSW coast
- 1 June 2018 - Media release - Beach goers and boaters advised to be on alert for debris 83 shipping containers lost at sea off NSW
Advice to vessel operators
Modelling undertaken by AMSA and weather conditions indicate that most of the remaining containers are likely to have sunk close to the site of the incident off the coast between Newcastle and Crowdy Heads. To date, two have washed ashore.
Given the potential risk to vessel safety, particularly trawling operations, AMSA has confirmed that a subsea search will be undertaken in the coming days to locate the missing containers on the sea floor.
AMSA has confirmed that the ship's insurers have contracted Port of Newcastle to provide their hydrographic survey vessel to initially conduct a five-day search.
The initial search will focus on the high priority areas around where the containers were lost, and where modelling indicates that most of them are likely to be located.
Given the potential risk to vessel safety, particularly trawling operations, AMSA will update the public and industry stakeholders as soon as they have confirmed data.
Visit AMSA’s website for updates and a map of potential hazards to mariners.