Transport Malta’s MSIU issued an investigation report on the fatal fall of a crew member onboard the general cargo ship ‘MV Altenavi’ while underway in the Black Sea. The safety investigation identified missing physical and symbolic barrier systems inside the cargo hold from where it is believed that the seafarer fell.
The incident
MV Altenavi was on a voyage from Bilbao, Spain to the Black Sea, on 19 July. Two seafarers, Seafarer A and Seafarer B carried out the first cleaning and touch-ups of lower cargo hold no. 2, under the guidance of the bosun, and then proceeded for a coffee break in the messroom.
After the coffee break, at about 1030, the bosun proceeded to cargo hold no. 1 and together with Seafarer B, he placed the two portable lamps at the tweendeck level.
One of the lamps had to be lowered by the seafarers to the tank top in order to facilitate maintenance at the site.
Seafarer A entered cargo hold no. hold 1 and climbed down to the tweendeck level, while Seafarer B watched from the access hatch at the main deck.
Seafarer B recalled that after reaching the tween deck level, Seafarer A walked out of his direct line of sight, presumably to proceed down to the cargo tank top.
Soon after, Seafarer B heard a noise coming from the cargo hold. He called Seafarer A several times and getting no response, he went down the ladder to tweendeck platform.
From that position, he saw Seafarer A on tank top of the cargo hold facing down. Seafarer A had also lost his safety helmet as a result of the fall.
Evidently clear that his colleague had fallen from a height, Seafarer B climbed up the ladder and rushed to the main deck where he met and reported the accident to the bosun.
The latter proceeded to the accommodation and informed the master and the chief officer of the accident.
Following the accident, the vessel altered her course towards Annaba, Algeria. Upon arrival at the anchorage, the injured seafarer was evacuated by boat to a local hospital for further treatment.
His medical condition, however, worsened a few days later and despite the doctors’ efforts, the seafarer succumbed to his injuries.
Probable cause
The injured crew member was suffering from a polytrauma due to injuries resulting from a fall from a height. He succumbed to his injuries in the hospital’s intensive care unit.
Conclusions
- The crew member fell from the tweendeck platform to the tank top inside the cargo hold;
- Physical and symbolic safety barriers systems, were missing at the time of the accident;
- The tweendeck platform’s width in cargo hold no. 1 was very narrow;
- The level of lighting inside the cargo hold was considered to be a potential contributing factor to the accident, with Seafarer A approaching the edge of the tweendeck platform without noticing that he was in imminent danger of falling down;
- The vessel’s Shipboard Manual for Entering to the Enclosed Space and Rescue did not address safe access and movement inside the cargo spaces;
- Countermeasures to minimise the risks of a fall from a height were limited to instructions;
- No safety harnesses were in use inside the cargo holds.
Actions taken
- A fixed safety line system (to attach the lanyard with a safety harness) was fitted at the location of the accident.
- Hi-visibility yellow/black markings were painted on the tweendeck platform.
- Railings and cages around access ladders were installed on the tweendeck platforms.
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