Report Details Four Ship Breakaways During Storm Maritime Activity Reports, Inc. June 7, 2026 Source: ATSB The Australian Trasport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has published an interim report from its ongoing investigation into the breakaway of four ships during a storm at the Port of Brisbane last year. Three large container ships broke their moorings, and one subsequently grounded, when Brisbane was hit by a fast‑moving, severe thunderstorm on the afternoon of November 24, 2025. A car carrier, which was in the process of mooring as the storm approached, was also pushed off the berth, but kept under control by its attending tugs. An interim report summarises the evidence gathered so far in the ATSB’s ongoing investigation, and outlines the order of events, but does not include analysis or findings. It notes on the morning of the incident, the Brisbane harbour master received weather briefings indicating potential severe thunderstorms that afternoon and evening. This information was distributed by Brisbane vessel traffic service to port stakeholders, and high windage ships moored in the port were directed to lower their outboard anchors, and add extra mooring lines where possible. Operations in the port then proceeded as normal, with the three container ships Volans, Wide India and MSC Barbara continuing loading and unloading at their respective berths at the Fisherman Islands terminals, having completed the required precautions. The car carrier, the Viking Passama, also continued its inbound transit of Moreton Bay, with its pilot and master agreeing on the use of a second tug and extra mooring lines. At 12:43 pm, the Bureau of Meteorology issued the first severe thunderstorm warning for South East Queensland. Updates showed storms tracking north‑east over the Gold Coast, until 2:07 pm and 2:27 pm, when updated warnings indicated a track closer to the port. “A new warning issued at 2:46 pm indicated that very dangerous thunderstorms would affect the area at about 3 pm,” sai