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.

Media releases
Advice to vessel operators

Debris location map

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The latest updates:

Roads and Maritime Services has commenced the Termination Plan inspections which details criteria and processes for levels of cleanliness and longer term arrangements for surveillance and recovery of debris.

Update - 19 September 2018

Aerial surveillance was undertaken between Newcastle and Seal Rocks with debris sighted on Fingal Island, Fingal Spit and the boulders at Yacaaba Head
Shoreline assessments were conducted between Port Stephens and Dark Point to Seal Rocks
Assessments of Stockton to One Mile and Broughton Island will be conducted this week
Varley Group had small teams concentrating on monitoring across the sectors and recovery of debris as required
Work to recover the remaining container located in six (6) m of water just off Fingal Head is ongoing.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has confirmed that the ship's insurers have contracted Port of Newcastle to provide their hydrographic survey vessel to initially conduct a search for the lost containers. The search, now underway, is focusing on the high priority areas around where the containers were lost. The results of this survey work will take some weeks to collate. Visit AMSA’s website for updates.

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

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.