MV Iron Chieftain.

During my time as a cadet I was employed onboard the MV Iron Chieftain, the last remaining of the BHP “Iron Class” fleet. The 1993 built Self-Discharging Bulk Carrier was one of the last Australian Registered and Australian Crewed vessels left in operation on the Australian coast until it tragically caught fire in Port Kembla on June 18 2018. Fortunately there were no casualties and all crew were able to safely disembark the vessel before the fire grew.

During my swing the company tested the operation of this vessel as a trans-shipper. The vessel was simply too large for this kind of operation and it went back to trading on the Australian coast until the tragedy and the decision was made to scrap the vessel.