Bahamas Maritime Authority reports of a fire aboard liquified petroleum gas tanker.
What happened
In the early morning of 27 October 2023, the tanker had completed loading a cargo ethylene in Daesan, South Korea, when the vessel’s gas engineer identified that liquid cargo was leaking from the cargo manifold. Having identified that the blank was probably missing a gasket, the gas engineer and duty able seafarer were unbolting the blank when the cargo vapour ignited, creating a fire ball that engulfed the manifold platform and extended in excess of 10 meters in diameter. The automatic water-spray system did not operate as required but the crew extinguished the fire after 17 minutes. The able seafarer was seriously injured. The gas engineer died due to complications from burns five days after the fire.
Why it happened
The ethylene was introduced to the manifold due to the incorrect line up of valves during cargo sampling. It was exposed to atmosphere from the leaking blank and when the manifold drain valve was opened. The ignition source could not be determined with certainty but the spanners being used at the manifold were not suitable for use with highly flammable cargoes due to the risk of sparking.
Additionally, the gas engineer was wearing a cold weather jacket that was of a type that could produce a static electricity charge. Despite concerns about the gas engineer’s conduct and competency, the gas engineer was working without support or supervision on a complex system. Firefighting efforts were complicated by a blocked head on the automatic water spray system. Readiness (both onboard and ashore) was reduced on completion of cargo operations when the risk of fire was thought to be reduced.
What we can learn
The use of non-suitable spanners on deck had become normalised as the necessary non-sparking tools to get the job done were not readily available. The Company’s stop work authority was not robust enough to counter individual culture – none of the crew that were aware of the cargo at the manifold felt empowered to stop the work of a superior.
A retributive approach to mistakes and errors undermines a just culture: if people are worried about the consequences, it is more difficult for them to speak up. Manufacturer’s recommended planned maintenance methodology and frequency for water-spray systems may not ensure operability when the water-spray is actually needed.
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Source: Bahamas Maritime Authority
