BSU has issued investigation report on a fatal accident on board the MV Hanjin Dallas on February 1st,2015 off the east coast of the United States. The bosun was found virtually unconscious on the forecastle of the vessel which was on the open sea in the North Atlantic en route to New York. Despite the immediate initiation of medical care, the casualty passed away later in the medical room.
The Incident
The MV HANJIN DALLAS was en route from Singapore to New York. At about 1000 on 1 February 2015, the ship mechanic (SM) found the 50-year old bosun lifeless behind the container lashing bars on a hatch cover located on the starboard side of the forecastle. Despite immediately rendered first aid and subsequent attempts at resuscitation, the bosun passed away on board in the medical room at about 1200. The body was examined by New Jersey’s department of forensic medicine on 3 February 2015. A fracture of the 5th and 6th cervical vertebrae with associated bleeding was determined as the cause of death.
The owner notified the Federal Bureau of Maritime Casualty Investigation of the accident at about 1300 (UTC) on 2 February 2015 and forwarded any necessary documents immediately. The owner interviewed the chief officer on 10 June 2015 in Buxtehude and the investigation team surveyed the scene of the accident on 23 September 2015 in the port of New York. No eyewitnesses observed the course of the accident.
Conclusions
In the course of the BSU’s investigation, it was not possible to determine what the bosun was doing on the forecastle. The explicit instruction not to enter the main deck had been given. There was no work order. The access to the passageway was locked. The officer on watch (third officer) did not receive a call from the bosun until he was alerted by the ships mechanic. Due to wash, the bosun was probably struck very unfortunately by waves at the passageway of the breakwater and forced against the containers. The injuries he sustained in the process were so severe that he later succumbed to them.
The owner reviewed the accident extensively and took various measures to prevent such an accident in the future. The instructions and announcements issued by the owner to its ships are listed in the Annex of the report (please see below)
In all likelihood, the accident happened without the involvement of another person. Although the measures of the owner taken before and after the accident are sufficient, such accidents cannot be ruled out entirely in the future. Publication of safety recommendations is dispensed with given the measures already taken by the owner
Further details may be found by reading the investigation report issued by BSU
Source: BSU
