Report on the investigation of the marine accident Star Ismene - LANT5, Nantong China 16 December 2008
Marine report 2010/11 eng
The Accident Investigation Board Norway has carried out a safety investigation in connection with an occupational accident onboard the cargoship Star Ismene on 16 December 2008, while the ship lay at anchor in Nantong, China. During sounding of the fuel and ballasttanks two crew members lost conciousness at a landing in the shaft leading down to one of the cargo holds. Following the accident, readings were taken that showed an oxygen content of 5.9% on the landing where the accident occurred. The investigation has revealed underlying safety problems with respect to the design solution which implies that the shafts to the cargo holds have to be entered to get access to the sounding pipes among other things. Further the investigation has revealed safety problems in connection with the design of the arrangement for ventilating and dehumidifying the cargoholds. Like other of the companys ships the Star Ismene is designed so as passageways and other spaces which are used by the crew also are used as ducts for the ventilation- and dehumidifyarrangement.
Plan showing the schematic arrangement for dehumidifying the cargo. Dehumidified air is lead through the starboard passageway, through the cargo holds and back through the port passasgeway to the dehumidification room in the fore part of the accomodation aft.
It is not carried out any risk analysis assessing personal safety with respect to these ship specific solutions neither in the design phace nor later during the operation of the ship. The operational challenges these design solutions may cause is not satisfactory dealt with in the ships’ safety management system.
The Accident Investigation board addresses safety recommendations to the ship owner, to the Norweigian Maritime Directorate and to Det Norske Veritas, respectively.
Facts
| Location | Nantong, China |
| Occurrence date | 16.12.2008 |
| Accident category | Personal injury |
| Area | Other Nation's Territorial Waters |
| IMO number | 9182699 |
| Name of vessel | Star Ismene |
| Accident type | Enclosed space entry, Occupational accident |
| Vessel type | Combination Ship |
| Register | The Norwegian International Ship Register |