Real Life Incident: Second Officer Loses Life After Falling Into Cargo Hold
While berthing a ship at night, a second officer fell into a cargo hold and lost his life due to serious injuries. The accident could have been easily avoided if some simple safety precautions would have been taken.
Accident:
After taking in ballast and weighing anchor at about 1 am, the vessel proceeded to berth. It was the practice to remove the hatch covers before berthing when loading or unloading cargo at this port. This had been done prior to heaving anchor.
As the vessel made for the berth the second officer reported to the Master that he would stand by at the aft mooring station. Two crew, both on the main deck, saw the second officer pass in front of them and enter the pump room just aft of No. 2 cargo hold.
Soon afterward they heard a scream and they raised the alarm. After the inside of No. 2 cargo hold was lit, the second officer was found lying and bleeding at the starboard aft end of the hold.
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He appeared to have fallen over the one metre high hatch coaming to the bottom of the empty hold, 8.5 metres below. The victim was later confirmed dead at the hospital due to a comminuted fracture of the skull among other injuries.
The official report cites the following factors that could have helped prevent this accident:
*Â Set up a safety barrier such as a fall protection fence while hatch covers are removed.
*Â Ensure that the crew move safely on upper deck passageways.
*Â Give the crew a warning when hatch covers are removed before berthing.
*Â Light up the cargo holds, to the extent that doing so will not interfere with safe navigation while sailing at night with hatch covers removed.
Reference & Image Credits:Â nautinst
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About Author
Marine Insight News Network is a premier source for up-to-date, comprehensive, and insightful coverage of the maritime industry. Dedicated to offering the latest news, trends, and analyses in shipping, marine technology, regulations, and global maritime affairs, Marine Insight News Network prides itself on delivering accurate, engaging, and relevant information.
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It is more important to remove all this rubbish in the passage aft of the hatch.
Only clear passageways are safe passages
IT IS VERY CURRECT I AM A SUPER TANKER CREW.
I give 90% grass root contribution to the fatal incident to the WRONG/UNSAFE DESIGN OF THE VESSEL’S HATCH HEIGHT AND WALK WAY.
sir i want to do work in cargo shipp…i am from india and i don’t know how to apply for shipping job , i can go any where any country for doing shipping job so any body see my post so help me sir…
@ Shravan,
You need to successfully complete DG shipping Approved Courses to sail on the ship.
I’m a marine engineering student and we’re currently working on this case for our study. May I know where else can we find more information, specific ones if possible, that can help us. Thank you.