Security: Illegal boarding – theft while the vessel at anchor What happened? An intruder armed with a knife boarded a vessel at anchor in Luanda, Angola. The intruder was discovered during the hours of darkness when a member of the crew was conducting a security patrol. An unidentified individual was observed on the starboard side of B-deck. The crew member immediately reported the sighting to the bridge and the alarm was raised, alerting others to the presence of the intruder who was armed with a knife. The general alarm was activated, and the Master was called to the bridge. #IMCA #Security #Angola #Anchorage

USCG: hazard from discarded munitions
The United States Coastguard (USCG) had published Safety Alert 02-24 relating to hazards presented by discarded ammunition. The alert was issued to raise awareness of lurking hazards caused by discarded munitions, which often contain active explosives or chemical agents. Although the practice of dumping munitions into the sea ceased in 1970, a significant amount remains hidden in coastal waters, posing a safety hazard to commercial fisherman, dredge operators, and others who trawl and work the ocean floor.#USCG #IMCA #Safety #Hazard

Trapped finger during mooring operations.What happened.
A deckhand injured the fingers on his right hand during mooring operations. The incident occurred when a vessel was headed to the pontoon to moor alongside her regular berth. As the vessels’ aft port quarter came alongside the pontoon, the deckhand used the boat hook to pick up the ‘in-situ’ mooring line and began the process of feeding the spliced eye through the fairlead. He then began placing the line over the bitts, this is where the deckhands’ fingers on his right hand became trapped, and serious injuries were sustained to three fingers.#IMCA #SafetyFlash #Injured #MooringOps

Engine failure and subsequent engine room fire There was a catastrophic failure of a diesel generator on a vessel working offshore. The failure of the generator led to engine components being ejected by force, which in turn started an engine room fire. The Hi-Fog fixed firefighting system was activated, non-essential personnel were mustered, and onshore emergency response teams were assembled. Additional emergency procedures were deployed with fire teams instructed to assess the engine room conditions. Onshore emergency response teams stood by to support the vessel in case of need. The fire was extinguished with limited damage to any further machinery. #IMCA #Fire #EngineRoom

Vessel collided with platform.
A vessel was waiting on weather when it collided with an unmanned and unlit platform. The vessel had been holding on DP at a fairly constant distance from the platform for about four hours from midnight, but thereafter, started to move towards the platform. The vessel was being driven using “joystick auto heading mode”. The vessel started moving forward and collided with the platform.#IMCA #Collided #Platform

Bunker hose damaged during connection What happened
During offshore bunkering operations, the bunker hose was damaged when it was stretched. A vessel passed the bunker hose to the supply vessel using the crane. The crew of the supply vessel received the bunker hose and tied it off. The crew then noticed possible damage to the bunker hose. The hose was returned and upon inspection it was seen that the outer layer of the bunker hose was damaged. Bunkering was cancelled. The potential further consequences were a possible spill to the environment and delay in operations.#IMCA #Bunkering #HoseDamaged

Lifeboat air cylinder explosion on an empty installation
What happened
An air bottle exploded on a lifeboat causing significant damage. The damage was discovered during a periodic inspection of an offshore platform which had been shut-in and had no crew on board. As the damage occurred on an uncrewed installation, there were no injuries or fatalities, but also no witnesses to the event or an exact date/time when it occurred.
The affected lifeboat was removed and taken ashore for further inspection. One of the bottles had exploded with a good portion of it propelling upward through the centreline seating structure and embedded itself into the overhead of the lifeboat. One bottle fell to the sea through the hole created in the hull of the boat and one bottle remained intact.#IMCA #Lifeboat #AirCylinder #Explosion

Nitrogen Cylinder Blast Due to Corrosion Highlights Inspection Gaps.A high-pressure nitrogen cylinder on a drill rig floor ruptured unexpectedly, destroying the cylinder rack and propelling other cylinders up to 15 meters away. The rupture was caused by severe corrosion at the cylinder’s base, which was missed during a visual inspection three months prior. The cylinder was near the end of its 10-year hydro test cycle and was difficult to inspect without disassembling the quad. This incident emphasizes the importance of thorough inspections, proper cylinder storage on free-draining bases, and compliance with industry regulations to prevent similar occurrences, reports IMCA.#Nitrogen #Cylinder #Blast #IMCA

Lessons Learned: Diesel Generator Engine Failure.The National Transportation Safety Board of the United States (NTSB) published “Safer Seas Digest 2023”, which includes a number of incidents which may be of interest to IMCA members. IMCA reports one of them.#IMCA #Diesel #Generator #Failure

Structural Failure of Rescue Boat.A rescue boat suffered a catastrophic structural failure whilst unattended on the davit, reports IMCA. What happened? Whilst no activities were being performed by crew on the rescue boat station, the structure of the boat failed causing the lifting frame and the console assembly to be torn off the hull. The hull then dropped into the sea. The remains of the rescue boat were retrieved for further investigation. There were no injuries.Immediately after the incident, a general alarm was sounded and a muster was conducted to ensure everyone was present and no-one was injured or overboard. The area near the rescue boat station was isolated, and a supply ship with available rescue boat was contracted to be in the vicinity of vessel having lost her rescue boat.#IMCA #RB #Report2024

Step-ladder Failure (LTI). A crew member was working while stood on the top step of a small folding stepladder when the step gave way, causing the crew member to fall to the ground. The impact resulted in back and head injuries, leading to a brief loss of consciousness and severe back pain. After medical attention on board, the crew member was deemed to be unfit for work for 72 hours. The crew member was subsequently transferred to hospital for further comprehensive medical evaluation.#IMCA #Report #StepLadderFailure

LOTO Failures and Unsafe Electrical Practices Identified During Audit. A walkaround audit conducted aboard a vessel revealed two critical safety deficiencies in the engine room, as reported by the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA).
The audit identified improper application of Lock Out/Tag Out (LOTO) procedures and unauthorized modifications to electrical systems, both of which pose significant risks to personnel and equipment #IMCA #Safety #Electrical #Practices

Serious Hand Injury During Routine Capstan Maintenance Task.A crew member sustained a serious hand injury during routine maintenance of a capstan.
The incident occurred while the crew member and an officer were greasing the unit. The greasing point was located on the underside of the capstan, requiring the crew member to work in a restricted position.
After the crew member signaled the officer to engage the capstan, the rotating motion caused the crew member’s hand to become trapped between a wire clamp beneath the capstan and the deck. The injury required medical assistance, and the crew member was transported ashore for hospital treatment, #IMCA #Safety #Incident #Capstan #Deck

Cargo Pump Shutdown Linked to Vibration Fatigue. An incident involving an uncoordinated emergency shutdown during tanker cargo operations was reported and analyzed by IMCA (International Marine Contractors Association).
During cargo discharging at a terminal, all cargo pumps tripped simultaneously when the Emergency Shutdown (ESD) system was activated. A duty crewmember, while on a routine pump room patrol, noticed a minor leak and immediately triggered the ESD without first coordinating with the Cargo Control Room (CCR). This caused an unexpected halt to operations. The leak was later assessed as non-critical, no injuries occurred, and operations
resumed after safety confirmation.#IMCA #Tanker #Incident

Crane Operator Fall Incident Due to Platform Failure.An incident was reported involving the failure of a crane access platform during routine operations. The report, issued by IMCA, highlights structural failure at a connection point that led to a fall incident involving the crane operator. No injuries were sustained. #IMCA #SafetyFlash #CraneAccessPlatform

Battery Overheating & Gas Accumulation Cause Smoke Onboard.IMCA highlights an incident involving smoke in a vessel’s battery room. Smoke was observed in the battery room of a vessel alongside. The fire detection alarm went off on the bridge. A visual check at the scene confirmed visible smoke. The general fire alarm was promptly raised, initiating an organized muster and emergency response.#IMCA #SafetyFlash #Incident #BatteryRoom

Hull Crack Arising from Vibration.A small aluminium vessel experienced vibration from the propeller, reads an IMCA Safety flash.It was initially suggested that the vessel had been damaged by hitting a floating object, and that, following assessment, the damage was minimal, permitting continued operations.However, a few weeks later a crack in the vessel skeg was discovered as water was leaking into the steering room. Crew installed a cement box to stop the leaking. Shore-based management required the vessel to stop operations for repairs.Never underestimate vibration – particularly if there is a change or increase in vibration. Have a suspicious mind: investigate, don’t ignore it. #IMCA #SafetyFlash #HullCrack #Vibration

To assist vessel owners and contractors in navigating these complex, high-risk environments, IMCA has published the Guidance on Safety in Shipyards (IMCA HSS032, M221 - Rev. 2). This document serves as an indispensable tool, providing a structured, phased approach to safety management from initial planning and auditing through to operational execution and final project closeout. It offers practical checklists and procedures to help companies establish a unified safety standard, bridge documentation requirements, and ultimately ensure a safe and successful project delivery. #IMCA #Safety #ShipYard #Guidance

Unsafe Positioning During Berthing. IMCA reports of an incident involving unsafe positioning during berthing.On a vessel approaching the jetty for berthing, the crew took their positions for mooring operations. While the vessel was approximately 3m from the jetty, an AB at the stern stepped out to the very edge of the main deck near the bitts to get a clearer view of the distance between the vessel and the jetty, and putting himself at risk of falling overboard between the vessel and the quay. #IMCA #Safety #MooringOperation

Seaman Falls from Quay Access Ladder.The incident occurred while a crane was being used to unload a smaller waste container on the vessel to a larger one on the quay. To access the quay from the vessel, it was necessary to use a fixed ladder on the wall of the quay. This was in poor condition, and was missing a step halfway up. While the crew member was climbing up the ladder, the crew member was distracted by movement of the vessel’s mooring lines, just at the point of placing a foot where the missing step should have been. The crew member lost balance, fell onto the gunwale, and then into the water. There was an immediate activation of the vessel’s emergency response procedure, and the crew member was safely recovered without serious injury. #IMCA #Incident #ManFalls #QuayAccessLadder