Tag: CO poisoning

In a recent IMCA Safety Flash, a crew member's carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning during oxy-acetylene brazing is highlighted, to draw lessons learned.

UK MAIB issued a safety bulletin highlighting the importance of installing carbon monoxide (CO) alarms on boats with enclosed accommodation spaces. The warning follows a fatal incident involving the motor cruiser Diversion, in December 2019. 

Apart from the common occupational health and safety issues, risk remains high for people working onboard as they may be exposed to gases or vapors that are poisonous. In this respect, crew members working with dangerous goods should adhere strictly to basic safety precautions.

Dan Boater, a medical emergency service, published its five steps guide on preventing carbon monoxide poisoning when on board a vessel. According to the infographic, CO poisoning is amongst the top 5 causes of death incidents among boaters. 

In April 2021, a fire onboard the Italian passenger ferry ‘Moby Prince’, Italy’s worst merchant marine disaster since the end of World War II, broke out. The incident, resulting in death of all but one person onboard, highlighted how miscommunication in emergency situations can be disastrous. 

In its latest Stop Loss publication, London P&I Club analyzed problems associated with the transportation of coal in bulk, such as self-heating and methane release. Self-heating can lead to fires and the production of CO, whilst methane release can lead to an explosive atmosphere being generated in the hold.

The UK MAIB issued a safety bulletin on an enclosed space fatality onboard the fishing vessel 'Sunbeam' on 14 August 2018. The investigation highlighted lack of risk assessment and noted that the crew did not appreciate the levels of risk they were taking when entering in a refrigerated salt water tank.

USCG issued a safety alert informing marine inspectors and other interested persons that ethylene vapors on LNG carriers activate CO alarm. Specifically, during an examination of a LNG carrier whose cargo tanks contained ethylene vapors, PSC Officers received alarms on their portable 4 Gas meters giving a reading of 60 to 100 parts per-million CO.

In its latest Safety Digest, UK MAIB deals with an incident involving monoxide poisoning. The owner of a small motor cruiser was trying to pump out water off of the engine compartment bilge. However, a little later a friend called the owner, without answer. Shortly after, paramedics found the owner unconscious, he was transferred to hospital, but never recovered consciousness.

Six stevedore workers were transported to hospital, after suffering carbon monoxide poisoning while onboard a vessel at Napier Port, New Zealand, Monday night. According to local media reports, there was a problem with a turbo unit that resulted in accumulated fumes poisoning the workers who were in the ship’s hold.