TITRAN

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Safety measures implemented after cadet got lost over board

The shipping company Berge Rederi AS has implemented a number of safety measures after a cadet died after falling overboard from the 'Titran', which was supposed to deliver fishmeal at the factory at Halsa in Meløy on March 6, 2022. The deck crew was preparing the cargo hatches by removing wedges and other sea protection on the hatch deck. When one of the deck crew was going down from the closing deck to the main deck after removing the sea safety on the excavator, he fell overboard. None of the other crew members saw the incident, and it therefore took approximately 20 minutes before they discovered that the deck cadet was gone, according to the report from the Norwegian Maritime Accident Investigation Board. Shortly after it was discovered that the cadet was missing, the rescue services were notified, and the captain turned the vessel around. As there was uncertainty about when the cadet fell overboard, the search was initially set too far north. After approx. two hours, the correct time was established via the vessel's surveillance footage, and the search course was set further south where the cadet had fallen overboard. Both coveralls and safety shoes were found, but the victim was not found. As the crew did not notice that the casualty fell overboard, this meant that the crew was unable to estimate the exact time of the incident. The Accident Investigation Board believes it is essential that if the crew of a vessel is unsure of the time of when someone has fallen overboard, this must be clearly communicated to emergency and rescue agencies, so that the search area is adapted to this uncertainty. The work on the measures as a consequence of the accident has been prepared together in dialogue with the crew on the vessels in the shipping company, to ensure that the measures are operationally feasible. - Use of a life jacket for all external work and stay on the hatch deck. This was created as an immediate measure after the accident and is to be considered as a permanent solution. - The use of personal warning equipment in the event of a fall overboard is being considered, but has not been introduced. - Marking of "unsafe zone" on outermost parts of hatch deck. In this area, the use of a fall protection harness is required. - It is being considered to install a cable along the hatch deck that the deck crew can connect to. - Shipping companies are planning changes to railings by making them higher on MV Titran and similar vessels in the shipping company. - New procedures have been introduced to specify which access routes are to be used to and from hatch decks. - It is planned that the crew will carry out safety meetings as a result of exercises carried out. - The shipping company will also offer courses to the crew to increase safety thinking on board. The Norwegian Maritime Accident Investigation Board did not issue safety recommendations after the accident. The investigation has not revealed any points where the Accident Investigation Board finds it necessary to promote safety recommendations in order to improve safety at sea.

Freighter lost man over board

On March 6, 2022, at 11.30 a.m. the 'Titran' reported a crew member lost over board in Lurøy. The man ended up in the water without a life jacket or survival suit in the area between Kvarøy and Tonnes. The crew performed work on deck when they became aware that one of the crew was missing. They tried to call him on the radio, without success. Rescue helicopter and several boats started the search of the man. Around 2 p.m. they made discoveries in the water causing them to concentrate their search a little further south in the waters. There were very good search conditions in the area. After searching for the man both on land and at sea, the search ended without result when darkness fell in the night. It was also decided that the status of the search for the presumed deceased person would be changed to a recovery. The search was resumed in the morning of March 7.