Cargo fumigation remains a challenging operation onboard. An investigation by the Bahamas Maritime Authority found that the crew had been exposed to the fumigant gas – which had been used to treat a cargo of corn – after positive pressure in the accommodation was lost when the ventilation system was stopped by a large wave flooding the galley and store through the ventilation trunking.
Due to the fumigant gas leak, one seafarer died and three others had to be evacuated from their ship after exposure to hydrogen phosphide gas, it has prompted calls for a radical overhaul of the rules governing fumigated cargoes.
In addition to the checks after the accident it was found that the door between the hydraulic room and cargo hold was mounted incorrectly Continue reading “Cargo fumigation incident leads to one fatality”
The National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) has published its 104 page Safer Sea Digest in pdf format which can be downloaded at the foot of this article. The Digest shares lessons learned as a result of the Board’s many incident and accident investigations in 2019. The aim of the Digest is to focus those who read it on what can and does go wrong and how it can be prevented in the future.
Transport Malta has published an investigation report on the container fire onboard Filia T while en route to Singapore in November 2019. The report was unable to determine the exact cause of the fire. but has identified either friction or self-heating of the cargo as probable causes.
