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Safety warning after man died in fishing boat tank from gas leak

An engineer on the 'Sunbeam' died after he was asphyxiated by gas that leaked into a refrigerated saltwater tank where he was working without any safety precautions, an investigation of the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has found. Three other crew members were also nearly overcome when they tried to rescue second engineer William Ironside on the trawler Sunbeam in Fraserburgh on Aug 14, 2018. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) report found the fatal accident happened because Mr Ironside entered the tank, which was an enclosed space, “without any of the safety precautions normally associated with such an activity”. There was no ventilation in the refrigerated saltwater tank (RSW), the atmosphere was not monitored and he was working alone without communications. Investigators found entering into the 'Sunbeam'’s refrigerated saltwater tanks without appropriate safety precautions had been “normalised” by the crew. On this occasion, however, the atmosphere “could not support life” because Freon gas had leaked into the tank through corroded tubes in the evaporator of the vessel’s starboard refrigeration plant, the report found. Fellow crew members found Mr Ironside collapsed inside the tank at about 1.50 p.m. on the day of the incident. Another second engineer raised the alarm by shouting loudly and then descended the ladder into the tank, where he found Mr Ironside was unconscious and not breathing. One of the deck crew also went down the ladder and helped the victim with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Another deckhand started climbing down the ladder but then started to feel light-headed and his throat tightened. He also saw the other engineer had collapsed and the deckhand who was in the tank was behaving strangely so climbed out while another crew member dialled 999 to call for help from emergency services. The 'Sunbeam'’s two deckmates then donned breathing apparatus, entered the tank and removed both the 2/Es and the deckhand from the tank using a loop of rope and a crane. Despite the efforts of the crew and paramedics, Mr Ironside could not be resuscitated. The MAIB report found the crew had historically decanted the Freon out of the refrigeration plants when in harbour but this practice had ceased in January 2018, leaving the Freon in the system and “vulnerable to any loss of containment”. Investigators found the tanks were not managed as enclosed spaces by the crew and the uncontrolled entry into the tank happened because “the absence of appropriate safety measures had become normalised on board”.

MAIB reoprt: A fatal accident on-board the "Sunbeam" nearly resulted in multiple deaths

A fatal accident on-board the "Sunbeam" nearly resulted in multiple deaths, an investigation has found. A report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has made safety recommendations after the tragic accident in Fraserburgh . William Ironside, 52, died, while several other men fell ill while working on the "Sunbeam" in August. The MAIB report contained recommendations for the vessel's owners related to entering and working in refrigerated saltwater (RSW) tanks used for storing fish onboard. Their investigation found Mr Ironside, a second engineer, had been found lying unconscious inside one of the "Sunbeam"'s RSW tanks on August 14. It was thought he had entered the tank to sweep out residual seawater as part of preparations for a deep clean. Three of the ship's crew, who climbed inside to try to resuscitate him, also became dizzy, confused and short of breath. One was able to climb out of the tank unaided, while a further two members of the crew wearing breathing apparatus pulled out the others. Mr Ironside could not be resuscitated and died. The MAIB's initial investigation found the refrigeration plant sea water evaporators had suffered several tube failures resulting in a number of repairs. It said it was likely the refrigerant leaked through one or more failed tubes into the seawater system, and was released into the RSW tank. It found no safety procedures for entering or working in RSW tanks had been completed before Mr Ironside entered the tank, while the three crew members "did not appreciate the levels of risk they were taking, even after the second engineer (Mr Ironside) has collapsed". The trawler's owners were recommended to conduct risk assessments specifically for entering and working in RSW tanks and provide safe operating procedures for its crew to follow and appropriate levels of safety equipment to use. The MAIB report did not apportion blame, and its safety recommendations shall in no case create a presumption of blame or liability. Report with photos: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/toxic-gas-accident-scottish-fishing-13443256

One dead and four in hospital after incident

One man has died and four others were taken to hospital following an incident at Fraserburgh on the "Sunbeam" on Aug 14, 2018, around 2 p.m. Three men had fallen ill on board the fishing vessel. One of the men was pronounced dead shortly afterwards. The two other casualties were airlifted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary alongside a further two men, none of whom were in a life-threatening condition. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Police Scotland, ambulance service and UK Coastguard were all in attendance at the scene. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch sent inspectors to Fraserburgh for investigations. Report with photo: https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/fp/news/local/one-dead-and-four-in-hospital-after-incident-on-boat-in-north-east-harbour/