An insurer is hoping an animated video can help boost safety procedures at sea.
Marine specialist UK P&I Club has launched the Lessons Learnt video, which depicts a tragic fatality on a loaded bulk carrier. The tragedy takes place during a periodic inspection of a bulkhead stool void space with the chief officer instructing the bosun to open the main deck lid to the vertical access trunk and to place a small ventilation fan over the opening.
While that takes place, the chief officer completes a “permit to work” in the office and returns to carry out the inspection, maintaining communication over a walkie-talkie and using a personal gas meter to check the atmosphere. When at the bottom he fails to respond to the bosun’s calls so the bridge watch keeper is alerted. The bosun then enters the access trunk but becomes too dizzy and collapses. The bosun ultimately regains consciousness, but the chief officer loses his life because of the lack of oxygen.
According to Stuart Edmonston, the loss prevention director at UK P&I Club, the videos are meant to provide an interactive training experience for employers and employees.
“This incident happened because the void space had not been opened for about six months and was not fitted with any natural ventilation,” he said. “This, combined with the effects of corrosion, meant the oxygen levels were fatally low. Importantly, the correct equipment was not used, nor were the appropriate safety measures in place that would have prevented this accident.
“Documented shipboard procedures for enclosed space entry should be followed at all times and crew must be alert to the very real dangers that surrounds the procedure. Improving safety standards in our industry is our key focus and the Club hopes these interactive training videos can help improve safety at sea, and reduce the frequency of these preventable and tragic incidents.”
