Accident Reports

Electrocution fatality during maintenance onboard explained in Britannia’s BSafe campaign case study

Posted on by News Hound
Image courtesy of RMI - Electrocution fatality explained in Britannia's BSafe campaign
Image courtesy of RMI – Electrocution fatality explained in Britannia’s BSafe campaign

As part of its BSafe campaign, the Britannia P&I Club describes a fatality of an electrician from electrocution, while performing maintenance of the inert gas scrubber electrical system whilst onboard an oil tanker. The electrician had been working alone at the time. Before starting work in the morning on the day of the incident, the second engineer (2/E) held a Toolbox Talk to discuss the work planned for that day. The electrician mentioned he might work on the inert gas (IG) scrubber pump starter panel, but he did not specify the items to be completed, nor the timeframe for the work. No formal risk assessment, permit to work (PTW) or Lock Out/Tag Out (LOTO) procedure were completed, despite all being specifically required by the SMS.

Continue reading “Electrocution fatality during maintenance onboard explained in Britannia’s BSafe campaign case study”

Report reveals fire on Finlandia Seaways ro-ro cargo vessel caused by catastrophic main engine failure

Posted on by News Hound
Report reveals fire on Finlandia Seaways ro-ro cargo vessel caused by catastrophic main engine failure
Report reveals fire on Finlandia Seaways ro-ro cargo vessel caused by catastrophic main engine failure

At 2003 on 16 April 2018, the Lithuanian registered ro-ro cargo vessel Finlandia Seaways sufered a catastrophic main engine failure that caused serious structural damage to the engine and a fire in the engine room. The vessel’s third engineer, who was on duty in the engine room at the time, sufered serious smoke-related lung, kidney and eye injuries during his escape.

Finlandia Seaways was 11nm east of Lowestoft on a regular voyage from Zeebrugge to Rosyth when one of the main engine’s connecting rods broke. Several of the engine’s major internal rotating components were thrown through the side of the crankcase into the engine room, and a short but intense fire occurred. Within 20 minutes the crew had conducted a muster, sealed the engine room, activated its carbon dioxide fxed fire-fighting system and extinguished the fire. The third engineer was recovered Continue reading “Report reveals fire on Finlandia Seaways ro-ro cargo vessel caused by catastrophic main engine failure”

Report published on cargo ship sinking in heavy weather that led to eight fatalities

Posted on by News Hound
Report published on cargo ship sinking in heavy weather - Image courtesy of JTSB
Report published on cargo ship sinking in heavy weather – Image courtesy of JTSB

Japan Transportation Safety Board (JTSB) has published an investigation report on the foundering of JIA DE the cargo ship sinking due to heavy weather in Kanagawa Prefecture, which led to fatalities of 8 crew members in October 2019.

The cargo ship JIA DE, with 12 crew onbaord, was anchoring at K1 anchorage point of Keihin Port on the way to proceed to Song Dang Port, Vietnam, when it encountered winds and waves due to the typhoon No.19 (Asian name “Hagibis”) approaching, and heeled to the starboard side.

The ship subsequently rolled over and took on seawater into the interior of the cargo holds, and thereby foundered around the anchorage at around 21:39 on October 12, 2019. The master and three crewmembers were rescued, but eight crewmembers died.

Continue reading “Report published on cargo ship sinking in heavy weather that led to eight fatalities”

Engine failure caused fire on another towing vessel says NTSB report

Posted on by News Hound
Engine failure causes fire on another towing vessel says NTSB report
Engine failure causes fire on another towing vessel says NTSB report

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released an investigation report on the engine room fire aboard the towing vessel City of Cleveland on the Lower Mississippi River in February 2020. The investigation has identified that catastrophic engine failure caused fire along with crankcase breach of the port main engine.

On 26 February 2020, the towing vessel City of Cleveland was pushing 18 dry cargo barges (15 loaded and 3 empty) upbound on the Lower Mississippi River, approximately 15 miles south of Natchez, Mississippi, when the vessel experienced a main engine failure followed by an engine room fire. All nine crew members safely evacuated to the barges and were rescued by nearby Good Samaritan vessels, which worked to extinguish the fire. The City of Cleveland was later towed to the operator’s facility in Rosedale, Mississippi. There was no pollution or injuries. Damage to the vessel was estimated at $2 million.

Probable cause Continue reading “Engine failure caused fire on another towing vessel says NTSB report”

Serious fire onboard caused by faulty electrical device

Posted on by News Hound
Serious fire onboard caused by faulty electrical device
Serious fire onboard caused by faulty electrical device

Hong Kong Marine Department has shared the findings of a serious fire accident, which took place onboard the accommodation of a Hong Kong registered bulk carrier whilst at anchorage. The investigation showed that the fire was most probably caused by a faulty electrical device or its accessories in a crew cabin, which led to a short circuit with the heat and sparks igniting the materials placed beside it.

The vessel was at anchorage, when a fire broke out in an unattended cabin of the vessel at night. A laptop computer was being charged in the cabin, and the electric source also supplied power for the lighting and refrigerator. The crew tried to put out the fire, but to no avail. All crew mustered at amidships of the vessel. The fire died down by itself about five hours later.

As a result, the accommodation on D deck and the bridge wings of the vessel were seriously damaged. There was no personal injury or oil pollution.

Continue reading “Serious fire onboard caused by faulty electrical device”

Catastrophic engine failure aboard Susan Lynn led to fire and explosion reveals report

Posted on by News Hound
Catastrophic engine failure aboard Susan Lynn led to fire and explosion
Catastrophic engine failure aboard Susan Lynn led to fire and explosion

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has published its investigation report on the fire and explosion which occured onboard the towing vessel Susan Lynn off Lousiana in October 2019. The investigation has identified a catastrophic engine failure as the key cause of the accident.

On 8 October 2019, at about 0600 local time, the Susan Lynn was docked and in layup status at Tom’s Marine & Salvage yard on the Barataria Waterway in Lafitte, Louisiana, when a fire started in the engine room. The vessel’s watchman could not contain the fire and evacuated the vessel. Local firefighters extinguished the fire. No pollution or injuries were reported. Damage to the vessel was estimated at $1,350,000.

Probable cause
The NTSB determines that the probable cause of the fire onboard the Susan Lynn was a catastrophic engine failure resulting in an oil reservoir breach and an ensuing fire Continue reading “Catastrophic engine failure aboard Susan Lynn led to fire and explosion reveals report”

Transport Malta reveals pump room fatality caused by n-Butane intoxication

Posted on by News Hound
Transport Malta reveals pump room fatality caused by n-Butane intoxication
Transport Malta reveals pump room fatality caused by n-Butane intoxication

Transport Malta has published its investigation report on a crew fatality in the pump room of the crude oil tanker MT Valtamed, while at Ceyhan OPL Anchorage, Turkey, in February 2020. The autopsy found that the pump man died by n-Butane intoxication. The investigation believes that the presence of H2S in the bilge space may have also contributed, by either causing panic or unconsciousness.

Whilst Valtamed was at anchor awaiting berthing instructions, pre-arrival tests of the high-level alarms of the vessel’s cargo tanks, and the forepeak store and pump room bilges were being conducted by the crew members.After testing the atmosphere of the vessel’s pump room, the pumpman proceeded to the bottom platform to test the space’s bilge alarms.

Although the port side bilge alarm was successfully tested, the chief officer noted that starboard side bilge alarm had not activated within Continue reading “Transport Malta reveals pump room fatality caused by n-Butane intoxication”

Investigation report into collision between motor yachts Minx and Vision published by MAIB

Posted on by News Hound
Close-up view of the damage to motor yacht Minx’s bow

MAIB has published a report on the investigation into collision between motor yachts Minx and Vision.

In the evening on 25 May 2019, the Gibraltar registered motor yacht Vision collided with the UK registered motor yacht Minx, which was anchored at Île Sainte-Marguerite, near Cannes, France. Minx’s crewman was on the foredeck and there was nothing he could have done to prevent being fatally struck by Vision’s bow. The accident happened because Vision’s skipper underestimated the risk associated with attempting a fast, close pass by the anchored Minx, a manoeuvre intended to provide an opportunity for the guests to wave goodbye, as the charterer had asked. Vision’s skipper had also consumed cannabis, which is likely to have impaired his judgement. Continue reading “Investigation report into collision between motor yachts Minx and Vision published by MAIB”

Report into fatal accident on board Sunbeam published by MAIB

Posted on by Rosie Burton
Report into fatal accident on board Sunbeam published by MAIB
Report into fatal accident on board Sunbeam published by MAIB

MAIB has released a report on the fatal accident on board the trawler Sunbeam. On 14 August 2018, a second engineer on board was asphyxiated and died in one of the vessel’s refrigerated saltwater tanks. The report found that entering Sunbeam‘s tanks without safety precautions had become ‘normalised’ by the crew and had been done ‘without consequence’ over a period of many years.

Sunbeam was in Fraserburgh getting ready for a refit and the refrigerated saltwater tanks had been emptied of water in preparation for cleaning. Entry into the tanks, which were enclosed spaces, was routine business for the crew, both when operating the tanks at sea and during maintenance in harbour.

The second engineer was found collapsed inside a refrigerated saltwater tank. The available evidence, says MAIB, strongly indicates that he’d entered the tank to sweep away residual water. When he was found, three of his crew mates went into the Continue reading “Report into fatal accident on board Sunbeam published by MAIB”

MAIB report published about capsize and full inversion of self-righting keelboat RS Venture Connect

Posted on by Rosie Burton
Report on capsize and full inversion of RS Venture Connect
Report on capsize and full inversion of RS Venture Connect

MAIB has published a report about the capsize and full inversion of self-righting keelboat RS Venture Connect. On 12 June 2019, Blackwell Sailing’s self-righting RS Venture Connect keelboat sail number 307 (RSVC 307) suffered a capsize and full inversion while sailing on Windermere, England. The boat was crewed by an experienced disabled sailor at the helm and a local sailing instructor who was acting as crewman.

Having been knocked down by gusty winds, RSVC 307 initially lay on its starboard side with its two crew still in their seats. The boat’s liftable keel then slid back into the hull, following which the boat inverted completely, trapping the disabled helmsman under the hull. The crewman was able to swim clear, but with the keel retracted he was unable to right RSVC 307 unaided.

The boat was righted by the Windermere Lake Wardens working with the crew of the sailing centre’s safety boat, and the helmsman was Continue reading “MAIB report published about capsize and full inversion of self-righting keelboat RS Venture Connect”

Fire on RoRo linked to accidental fuel spill says accident report

Posted on by Rosie Burton
Fire on RoRo linked to accidental fuel spill says accident report
Fire on RoRo linked to accidental fuel spill says accident report

Transport Malta has published an investigation report into the engine-room fire onboard the Maltese-registered RoRo cargo vessel Eurocargo Trieste, following departure from the port of Livorno in November 2019. The investigation identified an accidental fuel spill onto a hot surface as the most likely cause of the incident.

At around 0123 on 21 November 2019, ro-ro cargo, motor vessel Eurocargo Trieste had left Livorno for Savona, Italy. There were 25 crew members onboard and the vessel was laden with trailers.

At around 0220, shortly after dropping off the outbound pilot, a fire broke out around the starboard main engine. The engine-room crew initially tried to fight the fire but soon had to vacate the space. The crew members were then mustered, and the firefighting team tried to enter the engine-room to fight the fire.

Due to thick smoke and difficulties to enter the space, the fire-fighting team retreated, and the master decided to flood the engine-room with CO2. The gas was released at Continue reading “Fire on RoRo linked to accidental fuel spill says accident report”

Capsize of liftboat linked to inadequate preload procedure reveals NTSB report

Posted on by News Hound

NTSB issued an accident report has been issues by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on the overturning of lift-boat Kristin Faye while working alongside a platform in the Gulf of Mexico, in September 2019. The report identified the company’s inadequate preload procedure as key cause of the incident.

On 8 September 2019, about 1015 local time, the lift-boat Kristin Faye overturned while preparing to conduct work alongside a platform in the Gulf of Mexico, in Main Pass Block 64, about 18 miles east of Venice, Louisiana. All three crew members abandoned the vessel and were rescued. One person suffered minor injuries during the evacuation.

Consequently, an estimated 120 gallons of diesel fuel spilled into the water. The vessel was declared a constructive total loss at an estimated $750,000.

Continue reading “Capsize of liftboat linked to inadequate preload procedure reveals NTSB report”

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