Hong Kong Merchant Shipping has published an Information Note to present an incident where a fatal accident happened outside the accommodation block under adverse weather, in order to draw lessons learned.
The Incident
On the day of the accident, the vessel was en route from Laem Chabang port, Thailand to the destination port of Kaohsiung, Taiwan (the destination port). The weather became worse in the morning and caused the vessel to roll and pitch heavily. Under the rough weather, the ETO, without obtaining permission from the Master, conducted a routine inspection of the compressor machine room (the room) of the provision store.
The room was located on the port side of the accommodation block with an access door on the main deck. At approximately the same time, the bosun found that the life raft on the port side of the accommodation A-deck shifted from its bestowed position after being hit by heavy swells.
The bosun then went to secure the life raft after obtaining permission from the Master. After that, he found the ETO lying unconsciously on the port side of the main deck near the gangway with shallow breathing. His arms and legs were found injured with blood on his ear, nose and head.
The ETO was transferred to the ship’s hospital and declared dead. The cause of death was intracerebral bleeding, which resulted from a traumatic brain injury caused by hits by a foreign object.
The investigation identified that the contributory factors leading to the incident were that the shipboard toolbox meeting failed to follow the requirements of the “Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers” (the Code) to identify the hazards and associated risks of the routine inspection of the room.
The ETO failed to follow the instruction of the toolbox meeting of not to go outside the accommodation block to inspect the room under adverse weather unless permission is given by the Master.
Furthermore, the ETO also failed to follow the requirements of the Code and shipboard “Safety Management Manual” (SMM) when working in adverse weather; the shipboard training for the ETO on the SMM procedures, especially the familiarization with the procedure for “Work on Deck in Heavy Weather” was ineffective; and the ETO lacked safety awareness on working outside accommodation block in adverse weather.
Lessons Learned
In order to avoid recurrence of similar accidents during operation in the future, the ship management company, all masters, officers, and crew members should note items:
- Prior to the commencement of work, strictly follow the requirements of the Code to identify the hazards and associated risks for all involved work in a toolbox meeting
- Strictly follow the requirements of the Code and shipboard SMM on working outside accommodation block in adverse weather
- Ensure shipboard training on the SMM procedures be conducted effectively, especially the familiarisation with the procedure for working on deck in heavy weather
- Enhance safety awareness of the crew onboard on working outside accommodation block in adverse weather
