Discover the Peter-Oldendorff: Ratings & Maritime News

Germany's Federal Bureau of Maritime Casualty Investigation (BSU) has released its Interim Investigation Report regarding the tragic accident that occurred on August 3, 2022, aboard the MV Peter Oldendorff while it was docked for cargo operations at the Mukran port. The incident involved a fitter-trainee who was preparing to execute welding tasks in the steering gear room. As part of the procedure, the trainee needed to remove a plate from a vertically stacked assortment stored in a corner of the steering gear room, which was crucial for cutting out a specific piece. This stack, secured with a cross strut and a screw connection, comprised plates that were approximately 300 cm x 130 cm x 1 cm and weighed about 300 kg each. Due to the substantial size and weight of each plate, it was expected that other members of the deck crew would assist the trainee in the removal and handling process. However, the crew members were occupied with other duties at that time. A crew member later entered the steering gear room for a routine technical check and discovered the trainee trapped and unconscious amid the collapsed stack of plates and a shelf on the ship’s side. Emergency protocols were immediately activated, including alerting the crew, extricating the trainee from his dangerous position, and administering resuscitation efforts by the ship’s crew, followed by medical treatment from an emergency physician called to the scene. Despite these urgent actions, the trainee was unable to recover and was pronounced dead approximately 30 minutes after being found. As the investigation progresses, the BSU is working on finalizing the comprehensive report. Initial tests, using a dummy to recreate the incident, have demonstrated that the vertical stack of plates could tip with significant force, rendering it nearly impossible for someone trapped in such a situation to liberate themselves.