UK MAIB released its report on the SMN Explorer accident which occurred on 1 February 2018 when a crewman from the cargo vessel was fatally crushed while he was working on deck. Namely, a stowage space hatch cover fell on him.
The incident
On 31 January 2018, the Liberia registered general cargo vessel SMN Explorer berthed at Alexandra Dock, King’s Lynn, England. The port’s stevedores started discharging the vessel’s cargo of packaged timber from the deck. After that, the vessel’s chief officer (C/O) opened the cargo hold hatch covers and the stevedores started to discharge the timber from the ship’s hold. At 17.00, the stevedores left the vessel and cargo operations ceased for the day.
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The next morning the port’s stevedores started discharging the timber from SMN Explorer’s cargo hold again. The discharging of cargo was completed and a dockside crane was used to lift the ship’s cargo slings back on board. A little later, the vessel’s second AB arrived on the fo’c’s’le and announced that lunch was ready. A discussion took place between the crew and the decision was made to finish stowing the slings before eating lunch. The man stayed on the fo’c’s’le and helped to stow the remaining slings.
The second AB walked around the starboard side of the open hatch cover and seeing this the other AB then walked around the port side. Each AB removed the locking pin from the hatch cover hinge that was the closer to them and placed them back in the anchor cable guillotine stopper bars.
Then the second AB climbed over the fo’c’s’le stowage space hatch combing and walked over the cargo slings to the hatch cover. He then climbed up the inside of the hatch cover, using the framing as hand and foot holds, and reached up to grab the lifting slings.
When he did that the hatch cover fell forward, trapping him between the hatch cover and the hatch coaming.
The C/O and the other AB tried desperately to lift the hatch cover to release, but it was too heavy. The deck crew raised the alarm and attracted the attention of the dockside crane driver, who swung his crane jib back over the fo’c’s’le.
A little later, the hatch cover was raised by the dockside crane and the second AB was lifted unconscious on to the deck, where he received first-aid. Paramedics also arrived on board SMN Explorer, but they were unable to revive him and he was later declared dead.
Toxicology tests identified that the AB had a blood alcohol level of 75mg/100ml.
Probable cause
The accident was caused by procedural inadequacies and a lack of supervision. The investigation concluded that the ship’s safety management system was immature and the safety culture on board the vessel was weak.
What is more, tisk assessments had not been carried out for routine tasks and a safe system of work had not been developed for opening and closing the forecastle (fo’c’s’le) stowage space hatch cover.
In addition, the vessel’s lifting appliances had not been properly maintained.
Recommendations
The investigation provided recommendations to the vessel’s managers to improve the system of work for closing SMN Explorer’s foredeck hatch.
It also advised the managers to improve the safety culture on board and, specifically, improve the maintenance management of lifting appliances.
See further details in the PDF below