Greater ChinaTankers
Two crew dead from intoxication onboard tanker off Shenzhen
Three crew members onboard Zhoushan-registered 2,000dwt oil tanker Jin Wang You 9 suffered from intoxication while inside the forepeak tank during inspection work yesterday.
One of the crew members was inspecting the tank, however when he never returned two crew members went to find him and also managed to start suffocating. Another crew member called for help, with Shenzhen Maritime Rescue Center sending a rescue team. They saved one of the crew members, while another was found dead, and the third died while in hospital.
The vessel was carrying aviation oil from Huizhou to Shenzhen.
Local authorities have started investigations into the cause of the accident.
Tragic news.
Any entry into an enclosed space needs permission by the vessel’s Master.
The master and the responsible officer have to determine whether entry into such a confined area may be permitted.
A highly professional and scrupulous preparation with risk assessment is part of the granted the permission.
The procedure is fully described on the manual:
OCIMF VIQ paragraph #5.19.
ATTENTION. A plethora of such accidents.
Ps. The photo is from a much+much larger oil tanker. May be a VLCC.
That’s terrible, mainly for the death’s Family.
Probably this accident occured by a mistake during the liberation of the confined space, in this case, the forepeak tank.