Fire on BBC Rhonetal was tenth such hearth on a ship managed by the identical father or mother firm up to now 14 years. [Image: ATSB]
Sounds like this comes below the class of “when will they ever learn?”
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has issued security suggestions to the managers and father or mother firm of the cargo ship BBC Rhonetal, following an investigation into a fireplace within the maintain of the vessel at Port Hedland, Western Australia. It was the tenth such hearth on an organization ship up to now 14 years, and the fourth investigated by the ATSB, figuring out related contributing components;
In this newest incident, the 2013-built, 17,557 dwt common cargo ship BBC Rhonetal, operated by BBC Chartering & Logistics, was alongside at Port Hedland on the morning of March 25, 2021, when a fireplace broke out within the decrease cargo maintain throughout sizzling work utilizing a plasma torch to chop welded sea fastenings for cargo items in preparation for unloading them. The hearth was not declared extinguished till three days later.
The ATSB’s transport security investigation into the incident discovered this to be the tenth such hearth on a ship managed below the identical father or mother firm up to now 14 years, and the fourth investigated by the ATSB, figuring out related contributing components.
“The ATSB’s investigation found the risk of fire had not been adequately assessed by the crew prior to the commencement of the hot work,” ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell stated. “As a result, a continuous fire watch was not maintained, and proper precautions were not taken to sufficiently protect vulnerable cargo from catching alight.”
The ATSB discovered BBC Rhonetal’s managers had not successfully applied the shipboard security administration system procedures to forestall the fireplace.
“The continuing incidence of fires on the cargo holds of ships while performing hot work highlights the importance of adhering to shipboard procedures and recognised safe work guidelines for hot work,” Mitchell stated.
According to ATSB it has been suggested by BBC Rhonetal’s managers that procedures for decent work can be amended to higher describe the position of the fireplace watch, emphasizing its significance in hearth prevention. Fire watch necessities may also be built-in into the new work allow process and extra gear for the fireplace watch is to be distributed throughout the fleet.
The firm tells ATSB that it additionally intends to undertake measures to teach shipboard crew on the amended procedures and the extra gear, together with by means of implementation of a coaching video.
“While the ATSB considers the safety action proposed by the ship’s managers in this case has the potential to address the hot work safety issue, no timeline has been provided for their implementation, and the ATSB has therefore issued a formal recommendation to the ship’s managers, and the parent company,” Mitchell famous.
An ATSB security advice stays open till the company is glad the accountable group has addressed the security concern recognized.
“The ATSB is recommending the ship’s managers, Briese Heavylift, and its parent company Briese Schiffahrts, take safety action to ensure safety management system procedures are effectively implemented on BBC Rhonetal and all other relevant ships across their fleets,” Mitchell stated.
