Post drydock checks and verifications are critical warns The Nautical Institute in a new Mars Report. The report describes the flooding of the emergency fire pump due to a manhole cover that was not fully secured.
The Nautical Institute gathers reports of maritime accidents and near-misses. It then publishes these so-called Mars (Mariners’ Alerting and Reporting Scheme) Reports (anonymously) to prevent other accidents from happening. This is one of these reports.
A vessel had just departed drydock. The master decided to take additional ballast in the afterpeak tank to better immerse the propeller. Shortly after starting to fill the after-peak tank, a 440-V low insulation (ground) alarm was activated. Crew were sent to investigate and found that ballast water was flowing down from the after-peak tank access hole. Water was collecting in the trunk containing the emergency fire pump, which was now fully submerged.
The after-peak access manhole is about 4.5 metres above the deck. The manhole cover was in place, but the cover’s securing nuts were not fully tightened, allowing major leakage.
Also read: Progressive flooding sinks tanker
Investigation findings
The company investigation found that the manhole covers of the various tanks had been undone for inspections during drydock. After the inspections were complete, they should have been fully secured for operations. However, the cover of the after-peak access, situated at a height, was forgotten. Also, the bilge level alarm for the space was found defective.
Advice from The Nautical Institute
- Alarms should never be turned off and should be verified at regular intervals. Bilge level alarms should be rectified as soon as a fault is detected.
- Post drydock checks and verifications are critical. What sailor does not have a story about minor or even major deficiencies left uncorrected after leaving drydock?
Also read: Scrubber failure floods engine room
Mars Reports
This accident was covered in the Mars Reports, originally published as Mars 202548. A selection of the Mars Reports are also published in the SWZ|Maritime magazine. The Nautical Institute compiles these reports to help prevent maritime accidents. That is why they are also published (in full) on SWZ|Maritime’s website.
More reports are needed to keep the scheme interesting and informative. All reports are read only by the Mars coordinator and are treated in the strictest confidence. To submit a report, please use the Mars report form.
