Subscribe to our Mailing Lists (It's free!)
Friday, June 27, 2025
SAFETY4SEA
  • Home
  • Safety
    • All
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
    India

    Indian stakeholders warn ship retirement rule may cut 20,000 jobs

    Britannia: Follow safety protocols carefully

    Britannia: Follow safety protocols carefully

    Netherlands

    Fire breaks out aboard inland cargo vessel in the Netherlands

    seafarers

    Regulatory focus: New STCW requirements effective from 2026

  • SEAFiT
    • All
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
    Book Review: Building leaders the MMMA way

    Book Review: Feel grounded and think positive in 10 simple steps

    time

    Stay SEAFiT: Time is non-renewable – invest it wisely

    public speaking

    8 Key rules of Public Speaking

    social media

    Mindfulness and social media: M.I.N.D. your media

  • Green
    • All
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
    hydrogen norway

    New green hydrogen facility in Norway aims to launch in 2028

    green shipping recycling

    BIMCO: 16,000 ships could be recycled over the next 10 years

    towngas

    Towngas signs green methanol agreements

    shanghai port

    Shanghai completes world’s fist STS transfer of liquid carbon

  • Smart
    • All
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
    iaph cyber security

    IAPH releases cyber security guidelines for new port technologies

    germany latvia

    Latvia and Germany collaborate on smart port initiative

    imo autonomous shipping

    IMO in talks over autonomous shipping ahead of MSC 110

    germany latvia

    Smart vessel embarks on its first journey in China

  • Risk
    • All
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
    oil theft nigeria

    Nigeria arrests 76 ships during two-year oil theft crackdown

    paris mou

    M/V Goldy Seven refused access to the Paris MoU

    detention

    Kerala High Court detains vessel in connection to previous incident

    ai remote inspections

    BV develops AI took to advance remote inspections

  • Others
    • All
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
    US Iran

    US contemplates easing sanctions against Iran to aid recovery

    USA

    Veson Nautical: US boasts 4th largest fleet valued at USD 116.5 bn

    ETF ocean pact

    ETF: Ensure ocean workers are not just consulted but involved

    container ship

    BIMCO Container Outlook: Stable demand despite uncertainties

  • Columns
    fuels

    VPS: Effect of FAME contamination on engine oils

    strait of Hormuz

    Could the Strait of Hormuz close amid an Iran–Israel war?

    LR: Good data is a crucial foundation for improving safety

    ABS Consulting: Make cyber risk part of the daily safety conversation

    Trending Tags

    • Anchor Your Health
    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Human Performance
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Regulatory Update
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Training & Development
    • Wellness Corner
    • Wellness Tips
  • Events
  • Plus
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Safety
    • All
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
    India

    Indian stakeholders warn ship retirement rule may cut 20,000 jobs

    Britannia: Follow safety protocols carefully

    Britannia: Follow safety protocols carefully

    Netherlands

    Fire breaks out aboard inland cargo vessel in the Netherlands

    seafarers

    Regulatory focus: New STCW requirements effective from 2026

  • SEAFiT
    • All
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
    Book Review: Building leaders the MMMA way

    Book Review: Feel grounded and think positive in 10 simple steps

    time

    Stay SEAFiT: Time is non-renewable – invest it wisely

    public speaking

    8 Key rules of Public Speaking

    social media

    Mindfulness and social media: M.I.N.D. your media

  • Green
    • All
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
    hydrogen norway

    New green hydrogen facility in Norway aims to launch in 2028

    green shipping recycling

    BIMCO: 16,000 ships could be recycled over the next 10 years

    towngas

    Towngas signs green methanol agreements

    shanghai port

    Shanghai completes world’s fist STS transfer of liquid carbon

  • Smart
    • All
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
    iaph cyber security

    IAPH releases cyber security guidelines for new port technologies

    germany latvia

    Latvia and Germany collaborate on smart port initiative

    imo autonomous shipping

    IMO in talks over autonomous shipping ahead of MSC 110

    germany latvia

    Smart vessel embarks on its first journey in China

  • Risk
    • All
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
    oil theft nigeria

    Nigeria arrests 76 ships during two-year oil theft crackdown

    paris mou

    M/V Goldy Seven refused access to the Paris MoU

    detention

    Kerala High Court detains vessel in connection to previous incident

    ai remote inspections

    BV develops AI took to advance remote inspections

  • Others
    • All
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
    US Iran

    US contemplates easing sanctions against Iran to aid recovery

    USA

    Veson Nautical: US boasts 4th largest fleet valued at USD 116.5 bn

    ETF ocean pact

    ETF: Ensure ocean workers are not just consulted but involved

    container ship

    BIMCO Container Outlook: Stable demand despite uncertainties

  • Columns
    fuels

    VPS: Effect of FAME contamination on engine oils

    strait of Hormuz

    Could the Strait of Hormuz close amid an Iran–Israel war?

    LR: Good data is a crucial foundation for improving safety

    ABS Consulting: Make cyber risk part of the daily safety conversation

    Trending Tags

    • Anchor Your Health
    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Human Performance
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Regulatory Update
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Training & Development
    • Wellness Corner
    • Wellness Tips
  • Events
  • Plus
No Result
View All Result
SAFETY4SEA

Lessons learned: Improper maintenance can cost lives

by The Editorial Team
February 5, 2018
in Accidents
refrigeration hazard

Credit: UK Club

FacebookTwitterEmailLinkedin

In UK P&I Club’s latest ‘Lessons Learned’ series, Captain David Nichol presents a case of improper ventilation after maintenance operation, which could have led to fatality of two surveyors during a third party survey on the emergency fire pump.

The incident

During a third party survey, the surveyor made a request to test the emergency fire pump, which was arranged with the assistance of the chief engineer. The emergency fire pump was located in a recessed well in the steering gear compartment, approximately 3 metres deep and accessed by an inclined stairway. At the commencement of the test, the surveyor asked to observe the pump being started locally and operating before proceeding on deck to check the hoses rigged fore and aft.

Shortly after descending into the fire pump well, the chief engineer urgently ordered the surveyor to get out and by the time both men reached the steering compartment deck, they were experiencing symptoms of dizziness, with the chief engineer in a state of near collapse. They were taken on deck into fresh air by other crew members and recovered soon afterwards.

Analysis

Investigation revealed that maintenance had recently been carried out on the provision store refrigeration machinery located in the steering flat. During this work, Freon refrigerant gas from the plant must have been released into the space and, being heavier than air, had migrated into the pump well displacing breathable air. Both men were very fortunate to escape from the space unharmed. If the ladder had not been inclined but vertical, as is more usually the case, they may not have exited the well before passing out. The chief engineer was possibly more affected due to being of shorter stature than the surveyor and thus inhaling a higher concentration of the gas.

Lessons Learned

  • Improper maintenance procedures can cost lives. Refrigerant gas should be contained and in the event of accidental release, the immediate area and adjacent spaces must be checked and thoroughly ventilated
  • This is not an isolated incident involving Freon charged refrigeration plant. Ship managers should ensure that crew are made fully aware of the hazards associated with these systems
  • Where refrigeration machinery is present in a steering flat or other confined space, a risk assessment should be carried out to determine whether the space is to be treated as an “enclosed space” requiring pre-entry precautions and atmosphere tests
  • Consideration may be given to providing fire pump wells of this type with mechanical ventilation extraction from the bottom of the space and if fitted, to ensure it is always operated before entry

Lessons learned: Improper maintenance can cost livesLessons learned: Improper maintenance can cost lives
Lessons learned: Improper maintenance can cost livesLessons learned: Improper maintenance can cost lives

RelatedNews

Lessons learned: Hold a dropped object prevention survey

Lessons learned: Review gas engine startup procedures

Tags: enclosed space entrylessons learnedmaintenancemaritime surveillanceUK Club
Previous Post

No radiation risk from sunken Russian submarine

Next Post

California to reduce GHG emissions 40% by 2030

Related News

lessons learned
Safety

Lessons learned: Switching off a circuit doesn’t ensure full isolation

June 19, 2025
How to manage distressing events whilst at sea
Mental

Lessons learned: Demanding work strains mental health

June 18, 2025
bma fall from height
Accidents

BMA Investigation: Crew member falls from height

June 17, 2025
LCO2 carrier
Fuels

UK P&I Club: The rise of LCO₂ shipping

June 16, 2025
lessons learned
Accidents

Lessons learned: Regularly inspect critical components

June 12, 2025
lessons learned
Accidents

Lessons learned: Ensure that equipment is fully cooled

June 10, 2025

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Explore more

No Result
View All Result
MARITIME EVENTS

Explore

  • Safety
  • SEAFiT
  • Green
  • Smart
  • Risk
  • Others
  • SAFETY4SEA Events
  • SAFETY4SEA Plus Subscription

Useful Links

  • About
  • Disclaimer
  • Editorial Policies
  • Advertising
  • Content Marketing
  • Contact

© 2025 SAFETY4SEA

No Result
View All Result
  • Safety
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
  • SEAFiT
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
  • Green
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
  • Smart
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
  • Risk
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Case Studies
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
  • Others
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
  • Columns
    • Anchor Your Health
    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Human Performance
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Opinions
    • Regulatory Update
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Tip of the day
    • Training & Development
    • Wellness Corner
    • Wellness Tips
  • SAFETY4SEA Events
  • SAFETY4SEA Plus Subscription

© 2025 SAFETY4SEA

Manage your privacy
We use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. We do this to improve browsing experience and to show (non-) personalized ads. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Manage options
{title} {title} {title}
No Result
View All Result
  • Safety
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
  • SEAFiT
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
  • Green
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
  • Smart
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
  • Risk
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Case Studies
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
  • Others
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
  • Columns
    • Anchor Your Health
    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Human Performance
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Opinions
    • Regulatory Update
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Tip of the day
    • Training & Development
    • Wellness Corner
    • Wellness Tips
  • SAFETY4SEA Events
  • SAFETY4SEA Plus Subscription

© 2025 SAFETY4SEA