Tag: enclosed space entry

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.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands issued an alert informing of two confined space entry incidents on an RMI-flagged tanker and an RMI-flagged bulk carrier, which occurred within approximately 24 hours of each other, resulting in deaths of three seafarers and two seafarers losing consciousness.

A vessel contains several spaces which can be considered dangerous, such as tanks, holds, isolated compartments (e.g. bosun store), specific compartments (e.g. paint store) and others. So, how may a seafarer be suspicious that a space he/she is about to enter is dangerous, if no relevant poster or sign exists?

Accidents in enclosed spaces onboard ships have been a source of serious injuries and fatalities. In this video published by Gard P&I Club, we see Gard’s former surveyor Alf Martin Sandberg’s story, who could have lost his life when he entered a void space onboard a barge, without checking the atmosphere inside the space.

Accidents on-board happen for various of reasons; falls and slips are the most common. But what if an accident results to the death of crew member or members? This is a very different situation. Enclosed space is one of the most common reasons that result on different accidents on ship.

In April 2017, an electrician onboard the Maltese registered bulk carrier 'Abyo Audrey' suffered fatal injuries while working inside the elevator shaft. MSIU issued a report on the accident, revealing that the entry into the elevator shaft without being assisted and in communication with other crew member, was a contributing factor. 

The Emergency Escape Breathing Devices are part of the critical safety equipment and are used for escape from a compartment that has a hazardous atmosphere. Their use has become mandatory under the new amendments to SOLAS 74 (Chapter II-2, Reg 16) for all ships to which the safety equipment certificate is required.

During a third party survey, the surveyor requested to test the emergency fire pump, with assistance of the chief engineer. Shortly after descending into the fire pump well, the chief engineer ordered the surveyor to get out and by the time both men reached the deck, they were experiencing symptoms of dizziness, with the chief engineer in a state of near collapse.

The project's objectives are to develop a steady, stable and reliable drone capable of following programmable flight paths, either pre-determined by 3D imagery software or flown by a pilot, using 3D simulator ship specific training programmes developed in unison with the drone design.

The UK P&I Club issued important lessons learned following a fatality caused by entry into cargo holds, advising that these holds should always be treated as enclosed spaces and all crew should be properly trained to recognise the associated hazards.