Crewman was killed by toxic gas on trawler
Safety alert after ‘tragic accident’
A CREWMAN on a fishing trawler died after toxic gas starved him of oxygen, a report has revealed.
William Ironside, 52, was one of five men who became ill after being in the vessel’s refrigeration tank.
He died a short time later, while the others had to be treated in hospital.
The incident has now been deemed a ‘tragic accident’ in an interim report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), which has also issued safety recommendations to the trawler’s owners.
Mr Ironside, of Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, collapsed in a refrigerated salt water (RSW) tank on board the Sunbeam on August 14.
Crewmates entered the tank to try to resuscitate him but ‘soon became dizzy, confused and short of breath’ according to the report.
It adds that tests of the atmosphere in the RSW tank found that the level of oxygen at the bottom was below 6 per cent – less than a third of normal levels. A toxic gas was also detected.
The MAIB said the event was ‘a tragic accident, which nearly resulted in multiple fatalities’ and the crew ‘did not appreciate the levels of risk they were taking, even after the second engineer had collapsed’.
The Sunbeam was in Fraserburgh to land herring and was preparing to be refitted.
As part of this, the refrigeration plant was to be replaced.
The vessel had nine RSW tanks for storing its catch.
The report states: ‘Sunbeam’s second engineer entered the aft centre RSW tank and collapsed. [He] was seen lying unconscious by a crewmate, who immediately raised the alarm.
‘Three of the vessel’s crew entered the tank and tried to
‘Dizzy, confused, short of breath’
resuscitate the second engineer but they soon became dizzy, confused and short of breath.’
One of the men was able to climb out of the tank, while the others were helped out by two crewmen wearing breathing apparatus.
Mr Ironside could not be resuscitated and died. Four other men were treated at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
An initial investigation by the MAIB identified failures in the refrigeration plant. The report states: ‘It is likely the refriger- ant leaked through one or more failed tubes into the seawater system, and was released into the RSW tank.
‘Freon R22 [a refrigerant] is four times heavier than air, so it will displace oxygen at the bottom of an enclosed space, such as an RSW tank.
‘It is a toxic, tasteless and mostly odourless gas. If deeply inhaled, it can cut off vital oxygen to blood cells and lungs.
‘The RSW tanks on board Sunbeam were enclosed spaces that did not have a fixed means of positive ventilation.
‘Such spaces can become dangerously hazardous to life.’
The report notes it is the ‘responsibility of vessel owners/ operators to ensure that suitable measures are taken to safeguard the crew’.
It advises that safety procedures for those working in such environments be ‘robust’.
The vessel’s owners have been advised to conduct risk assessments for entering and working in RSW tanks, to provide safe operating procedures for crew, and to ensure appropriate levels of safety equipment.
The MAIB said: ‘Safety recommendations shall in no case create a presumption of blame or liability.’
MAIB chief inspector Andrew Moll said a full report would be published when the inquiry had been completed.