Tackling the tragedy of enclosed space fatalities at sea

Contribution by Captain Pradeep Chawla, CEO of MarinePALS

The dangers of asphyxiation when entering enclosed spaces on board ship are well documented and there are clear safety guidelines in place for seafarers. Yet, a recent report from the ship management association InterManager has revealed that the number of people dying in enclosed spaces onboard ships is increasing, with seafarers the ones most at risk of losing their lives.

More than 30 seafarers died due to asphyxiation in enclosed spaces in 2023, the second highest annual number for such fatalities in nearly three decades. Urgent action must be taken and updated training must be a core part of the solution.

How is it possible that despite warnings, procedures and safety training being in place, such accidents continue, let alone increase? The fact that seafarers’ lives are being lost, in increasing numbers, is a cause for real alarm for all involved in maritime safety and across the industry.

InterManager reports that most of these seafarers lost their lives while doing planned work – in other words, they were not dealing with an unexpected situation. So, are these tragedies down to inadequate training, a lack of clear messaging or instructions from their superiors or complacency among seafarers who need constant reminders of the risks involved? It’s probably all the above.

Related:Industry focus on tragedy of enclosed space deaths

It is worth noting that many of the deaths were of senior seafarers. Perhaps years of experience led them to be too relaxed, taking risks that they simply would not take if the dangers were reinforced more regularly. It could be they are rushing in to try and protect crewmembers they feel responsible for. Perhaps there are commercial pressures at play, with leaders on board feeling the need to conduct onboard operations at pace to ensure there are no costly delays. 

Whatever the individual reasons, training must be at the core of the response.

In 2011, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) introduced stricter controls on working in enclosed spaces, in response to the deaths of 80 seafarers and port workers in enclosed spaces between 1996 and 2010. More than 13 years later, we find ourselves asking whether the STCW guidance is fit for purpose. Does it hammer home the severity of the risks? I believe there is a likely disconnect between training ‘in theory’ and the reality of day-to-day work onboard, when seafarers come under commercial and time pressures while working to minimum manning requirements.

Consistency of messaging about the dangers and need for safe work practices in enclosed spaces is key and should come from the top down. This messaging should be incorporated into Safety Management Systems (SMS), into safety bulletins and into training, which must be powerful in its content, easy to absorb and frequently reinforced. Telling seafarers about the dangers as they first train for their careers at sea is one thing; a few dull, routine updates are not enough to keep that message fresh.

Tragically, when one person is in trouble, a colleague often rushes in to help – forgetting the risks, and sadly sometimes becoming a second fatality. It goes without saying that owners and operators must ensure that PPE and rescue equipment on board is fit for purpose, regularly inspected and replaced when in disrepair.. But equipment is only effective if used correctly. Seafarers must be regularly trained in the use of PPE, rescue kit and emergency response.

The way people learn is changing. Generally, we have shorter attention spans and are increasingly accustomed to digital devices, VR, gaming programs and sourcing information digitally. Effective training should never be dull or routine and, thanks to the rapid advances in digitalisation and connectivity, we have the tools to deliver something very different to ‘traditional’ methods such as remote learning and video training.

At MarinePALS, we are clear that maritime training and education can be revolutionised through digital technology. We are forging ahead with microlearning via short videos, gamified learning, and virtual reality (VR) training. Video training can bring seafarers up to date quickly, getting across the visceral dangers in a vivid, memorable way that cannot be achieved through theoretical training in a classroom.

Short, easy-to-absorb digital training can play a key role in alerting seafarers to the dangers of working on board and keep issues more top of mind and hopefully more alert during routine operations. Such training can be rolled out and accessed easily by seafarers across an entire fleet.

MarinePALS has recently launched two training videos that are freely available to all, in the interest of seafarer safety. Our ‘Enclosed Space Fatality’ microlearning video re-enacts a real-life fatality on a tanker and emphasises the importance of always following safety procedures. Our ‘Nitrogen – the Silent Killer’ video highlights the hidden dangers of nitrogen gas which is used to inert tanks onboard a vessel.

We would like to see all maritime professionals, shipping companies and regulatory bodies accessing these free resources and incorporating them into their training programmes, to enhance safety standards and prevent further such tragedies at sea. 

As InterManager has noted, better reporting is revealing the true scale of this issue. We must hope that its reported figures will focus minds and lead to real action to ensure that seafarers are trained, properly aware of the risks and fully aware of how to enter enclosed spaces safely.