BSU has issued safety investigation report on an occupational accident with fatal consequences happened on board the full container vessel DUBLIN EXPRESS, flying the German flag, while en route from Caucedo to Rotterdam.
The incident
At about 1553 (board time) a Philippine welder fell from a ladder while carrying out repair work in the engine room. The seaman was standing on a standing platform of an aluminum ladder located in a height of approx. 1.40 m. After having carried out cleaning work, he was presumably checking the proper screw connection of a pipe connection running above his head. No precautions were taken against a fall from the ladder with respect to personal safety and personal protective equipment.
For unexplained reasons the welder lost his footing when handling above his head, fell backwards on the floor and started to bleed out of his nose and mouth. The two other crewmembers occupied with maintenance work were alerted through the fall noise of the accident which they did not observed directly and immediately informed the ships command.
All necessary measures to help the very serious injured welder were taken on board. He was taken to the hospital on board and all means available were used to administer medical aid. At the same time, the ships command established contact to the Tele medical Maritime Assistance Service MEDICO Cuxhaven. The master immediately altered the course of the ship towards the next coastline (Puerto Rico).Despite the various measures taken, the condition of the seaman deteriorated dramatically in the course of ensuring hours.
On 24 July 2015, the ship reached Hamburg after having called the port of Rotterdam before. There the deceased seaman was taken from board and after a postmodern examination his corpse repatriated to his home country.
Federal Bureau of Maritime Casualty Investigation mentions:
On 24 July 2015, the Federal Bureau of Maritime Casualty Investigation was notified of the accident by the ship’s owner. In the ensuring period of time the owner provided information pertaining to the ship and the course of the accident.
The investigation of the course of the accident has been concluded. The BSU is currently preparing the investigation report about the very serious marine casualty. Since the time limit of one year set by the European Union and implemented into national law by the Federal Republic of Germany to publish an investigation report after a very serious marine casualty has occurred cannot be satisfied, the public is informed by issuing the aforementioned Interim Investigation Report.
Further information may be found by reading the safety investigation report below
Source: BSU