Report on very serious accident, fall overboard from the cargo ship Titran east of Stigen in Lurøy municipality, 6. March 2022
Marine report 2022/10
Before arrival at a factory to Halsa in Meløy municipality, a member of the deck crew fell overboard as he was moving from the hatch deck down to the main deck. None of the other crew members witnessed the incident, and it consequently took about 20 minutes before they realised that the deck cadet was missing. Shortly after it was discovered that the cadet was missing, the rescue services were notified, and a comprehensive search was initiated. The missing person was not found. Preparing for unloading was considered a routine operation by the crew and shipping company, and they had therefore not considered or identified any risk reduction measures relating to this type of operation. No special safety measures had been introduced to prevent crew members falling overboard from the hatch deck, nor had sufficient measures been taken to reduce the consequences of falling into the sea. The risk associated with routine tasks becomes normalised in the individual over time, resulting in the risk gradually being ignored or not perceived. Shipping companies and other stakeholders must therefore consider the need for risk assessments and safe job analyses in all areas of operation that may entail risk, including those defined as routine operations. The vessel had no physical safety barriers against falling overboard from the hatch deck, only railings on the main deck along the cargo hatches. The NSIA considers that the way the deck was designed, with a short distance from the outer edge of the hatch deck to the railings at a considerably lower level, was inexpedient in relation to the work to be performed, and that it entailed a risk of falling overboard. However, this was not an unusual design for this type of ship.
On Sunday 6 March, the cargo ship ‘MV Titran’ was en route to Halsa in Meløy municipality to unload fishmeal at a factory. The deck crew were in the process of readying the cargo hatches by removing wedges and other sea fastening equipment on the hatch deck. A member of the deck crew fell overboard as he was moving from the hatch deck down to the main deck. None of the other crew members witnessed the incident, and it consequently took about 20 minutes before they realised that the deck cadet was missing.
Shortly after it was discovered that the cadet was missing, the rescue services were notified, and the captain turned the vessel. Due to uncertainty about when the cadet fell overboard, the search area was initially set too far north. After approximately two hours, the correct time was determined using the ship’s CCTV footage, and vessels were deployed to search further south where the cadet had fallen overboard. A coverall and protective shoes were found, but not the missing person.
As the crew did not witness the missing person fall overboard, it was impossible for them to estimate the exact time of the incident. The NSIA believes it is essential for the crew of a vessel to clearly communicate any uncertainty about when a person fell overboard to the rescue services, so that the search area can be defined accordingly.
The shipping company has implemented several measures to help to improve safety since the accident.
Published 29.09.2022
Facts
| Location | East of Stigen in Lurøy municipality |
| Occurrence date | 06.03.2022 |
| Accident category | Personal injury |
| Area | Norwegian Territorial Waters |
| IMO number | 9100188 |
| Name of vessel | Titran |
| Accident type | Occupational accident, Fall over board |
| Vessel type | Bulk Cargo Ship |
| Register | The Norwegian International Ship Register |