Lessons Learned: Fatality While Rigging Portable Cargo Hold Light

Transport Malta’s Marine Security Investigation Unit has issued an investigation report into the fatality of a crew member on deck whereas rigging a transportable cargo maintain gentle at Iskenderun, Türkiye, on 08 September 2023.

The incident

On 08 September 2023, Drawsko was loading a cargo of grain, on the port of Iskenderun, Türkiye. Throughout that night time, the responsibility atypical seafarer was tasked with rigging up transportable lights in cargo maintain no. 1. A number of minutes later, nevertheless, the responsibility officer discovered the atypical seafarer mendacity unconscious on deck, clutching a transportable gentle.

Makes an attempt to revive the atypical seafarer, by the crew members in addition to paramedics, had been unsuccessful. The post-mortem end result revealed that the atypical seafarer had died of cardiac arrest as a result of electrocution. The protection investigation decided that the transportable gentle’s energy plug had been incorrectly wired, ensuing within the electrocution of the atypical seafarer when he picked up the steel body of the transportable gentle. The MSIU has issued three suggestions to the Firm, designed to boost security when dealing with transportable lights.

ANALYSIS

Goal

The aim of a marine security investigation is to find out the circumstances and security elements of the accident as a foundation for making suggestions, and to stop additional marine casualties or incidents from occurring sooner or later.

Explanation for the accident

The MSIU was knowledgeable that there have been no witnesses to the accident and subsequently, the protection investigation relied on the crew members’ recollection of occasions, and the findings of the Turkish authorities’ forensic examination of the transportable gentle. Since there have been various prospects as to why the accident might have occurred, the protection investigation analysed varied prospects, together with whether or not the OS’ medical episode, on the day prior to this, had contributed to his demise. Nonetheless, the medical log entries indicated that on the three events when his blood stress was checked, the readings had been regular. The second officer, who was designated because the vessel’s medical officer, had decided that the OS was not feeling effectively due to dehydration, on condition that the ambient temperature was roughly 32 °C. Furthermore, the second officer acknowledged that at 0800 on 08 September, the OS had suggested him that he was feeling higher. Subsequently, this speculation was not thought-about any additional.

The third officer discovered the OS mendacity with the transportable gentle clutched by each arms. Though he discovered the sunshine unlit, he was unable to remember whether or not the swap was on or off when he disconnected the plug. Because the transportable gentle was incorrectly wired, when plugged in and switched on, it will not have labored. Nonetheless, as a result of electrical leakage, if the unit’s metallic sections had been touched by any individual, it will have uncovered them to electrocution.

Subsequently, the next situations had been thought-about:

the OS had positioned the transportable gentle on the cargo hatch coaming after which gone to insert the plug within the socket and switched it on. When he went again to test if the sunshine was lit, he discovered it off, picked it as much as study it, and was electrocuted;
he had first inserted the plug within the socket, switched it on and was electrocuted when he picked the transportable gentle to position it on the hatch coaming.Nonetheless, if this was the case, he ought to have been discovered close to cargo maintain no. 2 as a substitute of cargo maintain no. 1;
he positioned the transportable gentle on the close by cargo maintain entry hatch after which went to insert the plug within the socket and switched it on. When he got here again to test if the sunshine was on, he discovered it off, so he picked up the sunshine and was electrocuted. Nonetheless, if this was the case, he ought to have been discovered close to the cargo maintain entry hatch; or
he positioned the sunshine on the deck close to the hatch coaming after which proceeded to insert the plug within the socket and swap it on. He then got here again to place the sunshine on the hatch coaming, discovered that it was off, and was electrocuted when he picked it as much as study it.

CONCLUSIONS

The protection investigation concluded that the atypical seaman died from cardiac and respiratory arrest as a result of electrocution when he picked up the transportable gentle.
The transportable gentle’s plug was incorrectly wired; the reside wire was linked to its earth terminal.
The colors of the wires within the transportable gentle’s cabling are thought-about to have seemingly contributed to the sunshine being incorrectly wired.
The transportable lights weren’t a part of a strong deliberate upkeep system the place they’d have been usually checked.

Actions taken

In the course of the security investigation, the Firm has taken the next actions:

All transportable floodlights have been faraway from service and checked by the ship’s electrician. Floodlights with no points have been returned for service;
Coaching on dedication to security, work planning, threat evaluation and scope of duties has been provided on board;
The operation and situations of the cable and casing, insulation and earthing have been included within the deliberate upkeep system on all vessels throughout the fleet;
All Firm vessels have been directed to test the situation of all of the transportable floodlights’ situation and tightness of the cable connections.
Vessels had been additionally instructed to withdraw from service any floodlights which weren’t passable and to debate the end result on the first security assembly on board;
{An electrical} set up inspection was carried out by the ETO (no malfunction detected);
The Firm’s SMS manuals have been up to date to incorporate the upkeep of the transportable floodlights;
A Firm Security Flash has been ready and distributed among the many Firm’s fleet.