The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) provides lessons learned from an incident in which, watertight doors that ought have been secured shut, were observed open. It’s worth reiterating the importance of watertight doors – the clue is in the name.
Watertight doors are special types of doors found on vessels, which prevent the ingress of water from one compartment to other during flooding or accidents, and therefore act as a safety barrier limiting the spread of water inside the vessel.
SOLAS regulations mandate that watertight doors should be kept closed at sea except when in use – i.e. when there is the need for crew to pass through them. (SOLAS: Chapter II-1, Part B-4, Regulation 22). The company’s own rules mandated this also: All watertight doors, scuttles, and fittings below the main deck shall always remain closed except when in use.
What was the cause
- It was noted, after further investigation during review of similar cases on two other fleet vessels, that watertight doors were left open after the regular engine room walk around, as this was a regular activity and there was “no point to open and close each time”;
- It was found that some crew were not aware of the relevant SOLAS and SMS requirements or the importance of keeping watertight doors closed at sea in case of emergency.
Lessons learned
- Look out for yourself your colleagues and others around you;
- Take 5 seconds to think about a task before you start;
- Don’t take shortcuts in safety to get the job done faster;
- If it’s unsafe – STOP THE JOB!
