Gap between SMS procedures and actual onboard practices
A deck fitter suffered severe burn injuries while attempting to remove a section of a leaking hydraulic pipe from the hatch cover system. The ship’s staff decided to use an oxygen (oxy)-acetylene cutting torch to remove the bolts from the seized flange of the hydraulic pipe. Hot work was carried out on the hydraulic flange without following the company’s Safety Management System (SMS) procedures, resulting in severe burn injuries to the fitter.
What happened
A 23,872gt Handymax bulk carrier dropped anchor at 0424 hrs and awaited berth availability. In anticipation of berthing later that day, the chief officer’s daily work plan, issued that morning, included opening all five cargoes hold hatch covers to ventilate the holds and allow a final inspection of the empty cargo spaces.
At approximately 1110 hrs, an Able Seaman (AB) noticed a hydraulic oil leak on the main deck near Cargo Hold No. 4. The AB immediately informed the bosun of the leak. Sawdust and absorbent materials were brought to the area to contain the spill.
The chief officer, deck fitter, and bosun discussed several options for repairing the hydraulic line. However, the bolts on the flange of the leaking pipe section were found to be seized. As the ship was expected to berth shortly, repair methods such as cold work or cutting the seized bolts to remove the pipe section for repair in the engine room were ruled out due to time constraints. The team therefore decided to use an oxy-acetylene torch to heat the seized bolts to expedite removal of the pipe section. A later investigation revealed that the people involved did not think that hydraulic oil was flammable.
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