The Marine Safety Investigation Unit (MSIU) issued an investigation report, regarding an accidental fall from a height of a crew member, during the cargo hold cleaning operations, onboard a bulk carrier. The purpose of a marine safety investigation is to determine the circumstances and safety factors of the incident, as a basis for making recommendations, to prevent further marine casualties or incidents from occurring in the future.
The incident
Perth I loaded a cargo of 33,000 mt of Kaolin Clay and 11,000 mt of Feldspar in Bahrain bound for Mina Saqr Port in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE. Discharge of the bulk cargo commenced on 27 May 2016 and was completed on 30 May 2016.
Upon completion of cargo operations, Perth I proceeded to off port limits (OPL) where she remained adrift, while the crew cleaned and prepared the cargo holds for the next cargo of stone aggregate, which was to be loaded in the same port. At 0600, on 30 May 2016, the cleaning operations of all the cargo holds were commenced.
At approximately noon, on 31 May 2016, the chief mate inspected a cargo hold and observed cargo residue behind the water ballast line. He requested the area to be cleaned, and asked the bosun to ask one of the ABs to remove the cargo residue from behind the ballast line after dinner.
It was during the cleaning of the cargo residue in cargo hold that the AB slipped and fell from the port side hopper tank. After a number of hours in the ship’s hospital, assisted by the other crew members, the master managed to arrange for the injured AB to be eventually transferred to a hospital ashore. Soon after, however, the master was informed that the injured AB had succumbed to his injuries.
Conclusions Actions taken During the course of this safety investigation, the Company took the following safety actions: Further details may be found by reading the full report: