Transport Malta reviews an explosion resulting in gear and structural damages onboard an oil tanker.
What occurred?
On March 18, 2021, an oil tanker was in transit to Al Duqm, Oman for drydocking. In preparation for the drydock, technicians helping the crew dismantled the walkway ramps on the principle deck to test their situation and the situation of the underlying piping.
Two of the bolts on the final ramp have been notably laborious to undo, and a technician opted to make use of an angle grinder to facilitate the work. Sparks emitted from the grinding disk and flew towards the vent head of the vessel’s Nr.2 gasoline oil tank, leading to an explosion.
The explosion brought about harm to the vessel’s metal construction and port-side lifeboat and liferafts. As a result of the SEASCOUT pursuits swiftly adopted sure security actions, the responding port state didn’t difficulty any suggestions.
Instant trigger
The protection investigation thought-about that spark(s) and excessive temperature particles both handed via the mesh of the flame arrestor, or landed contained in the save-all of the tank head, resulting in the explosion. Oily/waxy residues on the flame arrestor, discovered after the accident could have contributed to the flame propagation on the tank’s vent head and into the tank.
What adopted gave clear indications to the security investigation that an explosive environment was current inside and probably across the vent head. The following flash and the ejection of flames from the vent head have been indicators that the gases generated by the gasoline inside the tank have been inside the flammable vary. Nonetheless, since a hearth or subsequent explosions didn’t happen, it was hypothesized that not sufficient oxygen was current inside the tank to maintain combustibility.
Security actions taken
The Firm had carried out the next preventative actions, following this incidence:
Refresher webinars have been organised to stress the ‘cease work authority’ and the dealing with of using groups for vessels and crew.
A security officer will probably be on board the vessel(s) every time using groups are employed for pre-dry-docking preparations.
When a using crew is employed on board, the planning of jobs will probably be accomplished day by day, approved by the grasp, and submitted to the Firm for assessment and approval.
Driving groups will probably be accompanied by the vessel’s assigned security officer who will consistently monitor the roles.
Security associated coaching materials is offered to using groups previous to their embarkation.
A webinar on bunkering operations was delivered to related workplace and seagoing personnel.
All superintendent engineers and related sea going personnel accomplished a refresher coaching on gasoline dealing with and storage security with explicit deal with the brand new VLSFO properties and traits.
The Gasoline Administration Plan was up to date to incorporate precautions on the storage and dealing with of VLSFO.
The chance evaluation for bunker heating was up to date.
New buildings will probably be outfitted with closed-type vapour locks over the bunker tanks to facilitate the measurement of tank environment.
The frequency of bunker tanks’ environment checks was set to be carried out day by day.
The deliberate upkeep schedule was up to date to incorporate bimonthly inspections of the vent heads, for the removing of any amassed oily and waxy residues.
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Supply: Transport Malta
