Fall through unguarded hatch into pump room on oil tanker Inga with loss of 1 life

Location: Berthed at Texaco Refinery at Pembroke, Milford Haven, Wales.

• From: Marine Accident Investigation Branch
• Published: 23 January 2015

• Vessel type: Merchant vessel 100 gross tons or over
• Report type: Investigation report
• Date of occurrence: 7 July 2000

Accident Investigation Report 10/2001

Read our marine accident investigation report, which includes what happened, actions taken and subsequent recommendations:

inga.pdf (115.73 kb)

Summary

On 7 July 2000, a crewmember onboard the Liberian oil tanker Inga was involved in a fatal accident while the vessel was berthing in Milford Haven. The deceased was one of the vessel’s two pumpmen, and was noticed to be missing from his mooring station by the manifold. After a brief search, his body was discovered lying on the bottom plates of the pumproom directly below an unguarded hatch.

Safety Issues

• the pumpman’s assumed action of sitting on the lip of the hatch was unwise and unsafe
• the lack of cover over the hatch when it was open
• the practice of opening the hatch at sea for a purpose other than for which it was designed

Recommendations

Safety recommendations have been made to the owner concerning guarding the hatch when it is open, an keeping it closed, except when used for its designed purpose.

This report was published in April 2001.

Published 23 January 2015