RMI issued an investigation report on the fatal electrocution of a fitter onboard the tanker ANGEL 17 while underway in South Pacific in October 2020. After the incident, the company’s SMS was amended to require using insulating mats for any electrical welding in wet or damp areas.
The incident
On 15 October 2020, the RMI-registered oil tanker ANGEL 17 was underway in the South Pacific Ocean. The ship was bunkering fishing vessels operating in the region.
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Shortly after starting the main engine, following a bunker transfer to a fishing vessel, a seawater leak was observed from the main engine cooling pump discharge seawater discharge pipe. As a result, the main engine cooling pump was isolated and the general service pump was used to supply seawater for main engine cooling. On inspection, it was found that the seawater discharge pipe of this pump was holed due to wastage. The C/E determined that the hole could be repaired by pad welding.
Following completion of a risk assessment and issuance of a Hot Work Permit, the Fitter prepared an electrical arc welder. About 40 minutes after he started welding, the Fitter was heard shouting by several nearby crewmembers. They found him lying motionless on the Engine Room tank top.
The welding leads were quickly disconnected and the power to the welder was secured. Crew members brought the Fitter up onto the deck plating and found that he did not have a pulse. CPR was immediately started; however, he was subsequently declared deceased by the Master.
Probable causes
Causal factors that may have contributed to this marine casualty are:
- using an electric arc welder while standing or kneeling on a damp metal surface;
- welding while wearing damp clothing or insulating gloves, or both; and
- inadequate hazard identification and mitigation.
Actions taken
In response to this very serious marine casualty, the company has taken the following preventive actions:
- Insulating mats have been procured and provided to all ships in the company’s managed fleet.
- The company’s SMS has been amended to require using insulating mats for any electrical welding in wet or damp areas. The Hot Work Permit has also been updated to include this requirement.
- The risk assessment relevant to hot work contained within the company’s SMS was reviewed and amended to include additional hazards associated with welding in damp areas.
- A circular was sent to all ships in the company’s managed fleet to share the lessons learned from this incident.
Recommendations
Following the investigation and the actions taken, the RMI recommended that the company’s SMS requirements pertaining to the periodic inspection of machinery and associated piping be reviewed and amended, as necessary, to ensure they are adequate to identify signs of deterioration before failure.
