Real Life Incident: Fatalities Arising From Cargo of Steel Turnings

Two seamen collapsed in a store on board a general cargo ship. The chief officer entered the store to try and rescue them but was soon forced to leave when he became short of breath, with blurred vision due to low oxygen levels. The two seamen had been asphyxiated.

The store was adjacent to the vessel’s forward cargo hold containing ‘steel turnings’ in bulk.
The terminal managers in the loading port did not consider the cargo to be hazardous, and the wet cargo was loaded in rain without trimming or measuring the cargo temperature.

The correct bulk cargo shipping name (BCSN) for the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) class 4.2 cargo was ‘ferrous metal borings, shavings, turnings, or cuttings in a form liable to self heating (UN No. 2793)’ and the BC Code lists the special precautions to be taken with this cargo, including the need to keep the cargo dry, monitor cargo temperature during and after loading. It was also noted that the ship’s document of compliance – special requirements for ships carrying dangerous goods (DoC), did not permit this type of cargo to be carried.

To provide a means for draining seawater and to remove cargo residues, the crew had made cuts in the bellows pieces on the cargo vent trunk on either side of the fan motor in the store. This allowed a path for the air from the self-heating cargo to enter the store. When tested, the air in the cargo hold contained only six per cent oxygen.

Lessons learned

Owners, managers and masters should ensure that crew are:

– aware of the location and dangers of enclosed spaces, including spaces adjacent to a known hazard. This may include the posting of appropriate signage at the entrance to these spaces; and are

– fully familiarised with the ship’s enclosed space entry procedures, including the correct emergency response when persons are found collapsed in such spaces.

Owners, charterers and managers of vessels on which a prospective shipment of steel turnings or similar cargoes is being considered should ensure that the vessel’s document of compliance (DoC) permits the carriage of the same.

Shippers, shipbrokers and cargo brokers and terminals that are involved in the shipment of steel turnings or similar cargoes should ensure that their personnel are aware of the dangers of this cargo; that it is stored and loaded in accordance with the BC code; and that masters receive the required documentation with the correct BCSN, IMDG class and UN number.

Masters of vessels which have been fixed to load cargoes of steel turnings or similar cargoes should ensure that:

– the potential cargo is compatible with the vessel’s DoC;
– the cargo is loaded in accordance with the BC Code and they receive the correct documentation;
– all necessary precautions are taken on board prior to loading, including the briefing of the crew; and
– if necessary, the master should refuse to load the cargo pending further advice from the vessel’s owner/manager.

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