The USCG issued a Safety Alert in response to a recent marine casualty involving a fire and severe injuries to two crewmembers.
The United States Coast Guard issued a Safety Alert in response to a recent marine casualty involving a fire and severe injuries to two crewmembers. The incident occurred due to the combination of hot work being performed in a hazardous area, the use of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as a fuel source, and a failure to properly implement lockout/tagout procedures.
The accident involved a tri-fueled vessel (powered by LNG, diesel, and battery) where two crewmembers were conducting hot work on the air castle deck. Unknowingly, they were performing work in an area where LNG was being used as the active fuel source. Had the crew known that LNG was in use at the time, they would have avoided this hazardous area. The situation was made worse by a malfunctioning actuator for the engine’s purge valve, which caused methane vapors to escape into the hot work area. Believing the area was gas-free, the crewmembers struck a lighter, igniting the methane and resulting in a fire and severe burns to the two individuals.
The Coast Guard’s investigation highlights the critical need for vessels using LNG as a fuel to implement proper safety protocols. The International Code of Safety For Ships Using Gases or
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