TSB Urges Stronger Safety Measures After Engineer Injured In Accidental Lifeboat Release

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has called for improved safeguards on board ships after a crew member was seriously injured when a free-fall lifeboat was accidentally released from the bulk carrier Golden Zhejiang in 2023.

The Board said the incident shows the need for clearer procedures on risk assessments, equipment-specific training, and a safety management system supported by a stronger safety culture and reliable communication between crew and shore staff.

The accident took place on 2 September 2023, while the vessel was anchored in the Trincomali Channel, British Columbia. The second and fourth engineers were conducting the ship’s weekly safety check on the free-fall lifeboat.

During the inspection, the second engineer went inside the lifeboat to test its steering and faced an issue that he tried to troubleshoot. In the process, the main release mechanism was unintentionally activated, causing the lifeboat to drop.

The sudden fall caused the securing cables to fail, and the lifeboat plunged into the water with the second engineer still inside. As he was not strapped into a seat at the time, he sustained serious injuries.

The TSB’s investigation found that the vessel’s safety management system did not explicitly require a risk assessment before entering the lifeboat for a safety check.

As a result, the engineers began their routine task without considering the possibility of an accidental release. Investigators also discovered that the cables holding the lifeboat were not engineered or certified as load-bearing, making them unsafe for the purpose for which they were being used.

Following the incident, the vessel operator, Columbia Shipmanagement Ltd., introduced several safety enhancements. These included clearer lifeboat labelling, revised familiarisation checklists and work instructions, and the installation of securing turnbuckles.

The occurrence was also incorporated into crew training seminars, and shore management expanded its ship visits to improve crew awareness of free-fall lifeboat safety.

Reference: TSB

Source: Maritime Shipping News