Working Conditions Aboard the Nordland

A recent report has spotlighted critical safety deficiencies following the tragic death of a port stevedore who was fatally crushed by a hatch cover on July 14, 2020, during cargo discharge operations aboard the vessel 'Cmbris'—now known as the 'Nordland'—at an Antwerp bulk terminal. The investigation, led by the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) on behalf of the Gibraltar Government, unveiled concerning issues related to unsafe working practices and an inadequate safety culture at the terminal. The report detailed that the stevedore was crushed when a hatch cover was moved by the ship’s gantry crane. Unfortunately, no witnesses observed the stevedore positioning himself in a dangerous zone between the crane and the hatch cover, and the chief officer on board lacked a clear line of sight to monitor the operation. Alarmingly, a second crew member was not allocated to act as a lookout or banksman, resulting in a poorly planned and executed hatch cover lifting operation. Communication breakdowns between the ship's crew and port stevedores were prevalent, with both parties exhibiting a weak safety culture. In response to these findings, a recommendation (2021/126) has been issued to Briese Dry Cargo GmbH & Co. KG, the management company of the vessel, urging them to enhance the safety culture aboard their ships. The MAIB indicated that the company is already taking steps to refine its guidance regarding safe gantry crane lifting operations. Furthermore, recommendations (2021/127 and 2021/128) have been presented to the port stevedore federation Centrale der Werkgevers aan de Haven van Antwerpen, urging improvements in safety culture amongst port workers and compliance with safe working practices on customer vessels. In the wake of this incident, the MAIB has revised its safety procedures for stevedore operations and introduced a safety instruction card that defines the responsibilities of a safety lookout during crane operations. For more detailed insights and the full report, visit: https://www.gov.uk/maib-reports/crush-incident-on-general-cargo-vessel-cimbris-with-loss-of-1-life.

A cargo vessel docked at Warrenpoint Harbour faced a fire emergency that has now been effectively managed. The incident unfolded on Tuesday at 08:25 GMT when it was discovered that 1,000 tonnes of animal feed onboard were experiencing overheating issues. In response, a specialized marine response team was dispatched from Belfast, supported by six firefighting appliances and a hydraulic platform to tackle the situation. Upon arrival, firefighters identified two distinct fire outbreaks and utilized carbon dioxide to smother the flames by flooding the grain. The ship had recently arrived from Riga, Latvia, earlier that week. Fortunately, a spokeswoman for the Fire Service confirmed that there was no significant danger posed to life or the environment as a result of the incident.

On November 4, 2014, a fire was reported in the cargo hold of the MV Cimbris, a Gibraltar-flagged cargo vessel, at Warrenpoint Harbour, Ireland. According to gCaptain, the incident was reported by the ship’s captain to the Warrenpoint Harbour Authority Port Control around 8:30 a.m. The vessel was carrying a substantial load of animal feed that began to overheat, prompting an urgent response from several units of the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service. Upon arrival, emergency responders established a secure perimeter around the ship. Firefighters quickly identified two distinct fire outbreaks within the cargo hold that were linked to the animal feed. Thanks to their swift action, crews managed to control the flames effectively and monitored the situation for the remainder of the day. Peter Conway, Chief Executive of the Harbour Authority, noted that the MV Cimbris had docked earlier that week after its voyage from Riga, Latvia, bringing with it 3,000 tons of animal feed, of which 2,000 tons had already been unloaded. Fortunately, the port remained operational, and the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that there was no significant risk posed to life or the environment during this incident. For more details, visit: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-29896823.