Mauritius-Pride-Ii Ship Details and Seafarer Feedback

In a troubling incident aboard the 'Thorco Angela' in Liverpool, a stevedore had to be hospitalized after encountering cans of fumigant on October 10, 2021. This event occurred during a cargo discharge operation conducted by dockers subcontracted to Peel Ports. Following the initial handling of the cargo, one worker experienced severe symptoms overnight leading to his hospitalization due to nausea, balance issues, and nerve damage in his hand. This incident forced him into an extended leave to recover. The 'Thorco Angela' had previously loaded 8,000 tonnes of bagged sweet potato products in Rizhao, China, back in July. During the loading process, port workers and crew placed pouches and cans of aluminium phosphide fumigant among the cargo. After the unfortunate incident in Liverpool, the crew took action to remove some of the fumigant from the cargo holds, while a contracted specialist later collected 150 kg of the substance from the vessel. A preliminary investigation by the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) determined that the fumigant was supplied by a cargo vendor in China. The report highlighted that due to Covid-19 restrictions in Rizhao, specialized fumigators were likely denied access to the 'Thorco Angela' to manage the fumigant properly. The crew on board were untrained in the use or removal of the fumigant, and their protective gear was insufficient for safe handling. The officers aboard failed to comply with the company’s safety management guidelines as well as international fumigation protocols, leading to improper deployment of the chemical that did not fully dissipate during transit to Liverpool. Compounding the issues, the fumigant's use was neither recorded on the ship nor communicated to Peel Ports by the vessel's master or management. This oversight resulted in Peel Ports being unprepared to initiate fumigant-removal procedures before allowing cargo operations to commence. The MAIB remarked, “The risk posed by the fumigant cans was significantly underestimated at their discovery, delaying the suspension of cargo handling, and the emergency protocols at Peel Ports were not adhered to strictly.” The inquiry revealed that the stevedore likely ingested the fumigant either during cargo work or afterward while smoking and eating. Peel Ports has been made aware of the identified safety lapses, and Auerbach Bereederung has received notice concerning the shortcomings in officer actions. In response, Peel Ports has conducted an internal investigation and is committed to enhancing safety measures by incorporating cargo fumigation status into its vessel cargo work checklist.

On December 3, 2018, at 11:25 p.m., the cargo vessel 'Thorco Angela', which had just arrived from Orkanger, experienced a significant engine failure while attempting to berth at the port of Montreal, Quebec. In response to this urgent situation, a tugboat was summoned to provide necessary assistance. As of December 5, the 'Thorco Angela' remains stationary in the port, awaiting repairs and further assessments.