Confined space fatality – Sharp LadyThe
Isle of Man Ship Registry has published Casualty Investigation Report
No. CA118 on a confined space entry fatality that occurred on a crude
tanker. The incident occurred after discharging crude oil. Equipment was
lost at the bottom of a tank. It was decided that once the discharge
was finished and crude oil washing completed, the equipment should be
retrieved before loading the next cargo into this tank, to avoid any
potential damage to the ship’s equipment.
The
Chief Officer and Cadet entered the cargo tank after an enclosed space
work permit and risk assessment had been completed. When the Chief
Officer and Cadet reached the bottom of the cargo tank they felt
debilitating effects of hydrocarbon vapour present at the lower level of
the cargo tank. Both the Chief Officer and Cadet attempted to activate
their Emergency Escape Breathing Devices (EEBD) and exit the cargo tank.
The
Master observed the Cadet in difficulty and quickly entered the tank,
ignoring the advice of a fellow crew member. The Chief Officer
successfully exited the cargo tank but the Cadet had collapsed
unconscious on the tank bottom. When the Master reached the tank bottom
to aid the Cadet he was overcome by hydrocarbon vapour and collapsed.
The
alarm was raised and a rescue was quickly initiated. The Master and
Cadet were retrieved from the bottom of the cargo tank and brought to
the main deck where first aid was administered. The report concludes
that the Master died and the Cadet was injured as a result of entering
the cargo tank containing a concentration of hydrocarbon vapour at the
bottom of the cargo tank. The ship’s safety procedures for enclosed
space were not fully complied with and the risk posed by the hydrocarbon
vapour measured in the cargo tank was not appreciated by those involved
in the tank entry preparations.
The report also concludes that
opportunities were missed on board to stop the tank entry by several
crew members and that the death of the Master could have been prevented
had the safety procedures on board been followed in full.
The full report can be found at
gov.im/lib/docs/ded/shipregistry/formsdocs/reports/casualty/iompg12.pdf
Source:IMCA
