The Marine Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) has released the findings of its investigation into a fatal enclosed space accident aboard the cargo vessel Seren in August 2024. The incident, which occurred during fuel oil tank (FOT) cleaning operations at Suez Southern Anchorage, Egypt, underscores significant lapses in safety protocols and communication between ship crews and shore-based personnel.
Incident Overview
On August 19, 2024, a shore cleaning team initiated a cleaning operation on the FOT of the Hong Kong-registered Seren. The team was also tasked with repairing a ruptured bulkhead that had been damaged during a previous cargo loading operation. Following a toolbox meeting between the ship’s crew and the shore team, the cleaning commenced and continued intermittently over several days.
In the early hours of the fourth day, two shore workers emerged from the FOT, reporting that a colleague had been injured inside. The foreman immediately entered the FOT, equipped with a flashlight and a breathing apparatus mask. Despite rescue efforts by the ship’s crew, the injured worker was successfully extracted after approximately three hours and later regained consciousness. However, the foreman was found five hours later, unresponsive, and was declared deceased upon retrieval.
Contributory Factors
The investigation identified several key factors that contributed to the fatality:
- Non-compliance with Safety Protocols: The ship’s crew, the safety engineer of the shore cleaning team, and the foreman failed to adhere to established safety requirements for enclosed space entry. A detailed risk assessment, as mandated by the ship’s Safety Management System (SMS), was not conducted prior to the operation.
- Ineffective Communication: There was a breakdown in communication between the ship’s crew and the shore cleaning team, as well as among the team members themselves during the cleaning operation.
- Underestimation of Risks: Both the foreman and the shore workers demonstrated a lack of safety awareness and underestimated the potential hazards associated with the enclosed space.
Lessons Learned
This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of strict adherence to safety protocols and effective communication in maritime operations. Enclosed space fatalities remain a significant concern in the industry, often resulting from lapses in following established procedures and underestimating inherent risks.
To mitigate such risks, it is imperative that all personnel involved in enclosed space operations receive comprehensive training on safety procedures and hazard identification. Regular drills and risk assessments should be conducted to ensure preparedness and compliance with safety standards. Furthermore, fostering a culture of open communication and safety awareness among all team members is essential to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Marine Department’s report serves as a crucial resource for maritime professionals, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to reflect upon and reinforce the importance of safety in enclosed space operations.
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Source: IIMS
