lessons learned

Transport Malta reports of the grounding of a bulk carrier in the Indonesian Archipelago.

At 1155, on 02 March 2021, a Maltese registered bulk carrier ran aground on a shoal off Pulau Bisa in the Indonesian Archipelago, while on passage from Batangas, Philippines to Queensland, Australia. The vessel’s primary means of navigation was ECDIS. The officer of the watch was following a route displayed on the ECDIS, when unexpected shuddering was felt. Soon after, the vessel came to an...

https://mfame.guru/lessons-learned-grounding-of-bulk-carrier/

Transport Malta reports an explosion leading to equipment and structural damages onboard an oil tanker.

On March 18, 2021, an oil tanker was in transit to Al Duqm, Oman for drydocking. In preparation for the drydock, technicians assisting the crew dismantled the walkway ramps on the main deck to check their condition and the condition of the underlying piping.

Two of the bolts on the last ramp were particularly hard to undo, and a technician opted to use an angle grinder to...

https://mfame.guru/lessons-learned-explosion-leads-to-equipment-and-structural-damages/

MSIU has published a Safety report on the grounding of a bulk carrier causing crew fatality and injury.

The Vessel departed from the port of Norfolk, USA, bound for Bizerte, Tunisia on 26 January 2021. During the voyage, the vessel experienced inclement weather and the voyage plan was progressively amended, based on the advice received from a weather routeing service.

On 29 January 2021, the eductor was started to pump out the water from the forecastle store, which was found flooded...

https://mfame.guru/lessons-learned-inclement-weather-causes-crew-fatality-and-injury/

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released an investigation report on the bulk carrier Sirocco which broke away from its moorings and drifted in March 2023.

On March 27, 2023, about 0208 local time, the bulk carrier Sirocco broke free from its moorings at the Convent Marine Terminal, located at mile 160.9 on the Lower Mississippi River in Convent, Louisiana. The vessel drifted downriver and, at 0249, collided with a barge moored at the Mosaic Uncle Sam dock at mile...

https://mfame.guru/lessons-learned-breakaway-of-bulk-carrier-and-subsequent-collision/

UK MAIB has issued an investigation report on an incident where a crew member suffered fatal injuries due to being struck by a mooring line in August 2021.

On the morning of August 26, 2021, the second officer of the Isle of Man-registered bulk carrier suffered fatal injuries after being struck by a recoiling mooring line. The incident occurred while the vessel was berthing at Puerto Ventanas, Chile. The mooring line became trapped between the vessel and the berth, likely near a...

https://mfame.guru/lessons-learned-fatal-mooring-accident-on-bulk-carrier/

The Nautical Institute reports that a potential injury from a knife was avoided.

A vessel was underway and experiencing severe rolling and pitching due to a heavy, long swell. In the galley, personnel were preparing the next meal. While passing near the galley, another crew member observed that the chief cook had placed his chef’s knife on the edge of the prep table, directly above his right foot.

The crew member intervened and reminded the chief cook that, given the vessel’s...

https://mfame.guru/lessons-learned-a-knife-near-miss/

USCG has issued a Safety Alert to raise awareness of potential hazards with insufficiently inspected compressed air cylinders used in lifeboat self-contained air support systems for fire protected lifeboats.

During a routine inspection of an OCS unit that was unmanned and awaiting decommissioning, company personnel discovered a large hole in one of the facility’s lifeboats. Further examination revealed that a cylinder from the self-contained air support system had ruptured, causing the...

https://mfame.guru/lessons-learned-uscg-warns-of-lifeboat-cylinder-corrosion-risk/

The National Transportation Safety Board of the United States (NTSB) published “Safer Seas Digest 2023,” which includes several incidents that may be of interest to IMCA members. This is one of them.

A fire broke out in a stateroom on board a small towing vessel on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. The fire was extinguished and the crew were evacuated safely. There were no injuries, and no pollution was reported, but the vessel was destroyed.

An off-watch pilot was awakened by a smoke...

https://mfame.guru/lessons-learned-fire-on-vessel-escaped-exhaust-gases/

IMCA summarises the lessons learned with respect to a fire in engine room.

A fire occurred in the engine room of a vessel during operations. The fire was first detected by a duty crew member, and the watch team immediately attempted to extinguish it using portable fire extinguishers. Unfortunately, these efforts were not successful, and the fire rapidly escalated.

The fire initially impacted the starboard main engine and surrounding areas, with temperatures rising beyond 660°C. This...

https://mfame.guru/lessons-learned-fire-in-engine-room/

The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) has published a marine investigation report detailing a dangerous space fatality.

On the morning of 21 December 2021, a Bahamas registered bulk carrier had nearly completed loading a cargo of corn in Chennai, India, when a team of fumigation contractors arrived onboard.

In the early afternoon, two contractors entered cargo hold 4, wearing gas masks along with a phosphine gas detector. Shortly afterwards, one of them climbed back out, feeling...

https://mfame.guru/lessons-learned-dangerous-space-fatality/