Safety Flash
Diver emergency decompression following construction barge anchor loss during tropical storm
Diver emergency decompression following construction barge anchor loss during tropical storm
- IMCA
- Safety Flash
- IMCA SF 03/13
- DivingEmergency ResponseVessel and Mooring
- Loss of station keeping
- Saturation diving
- Emergency responseEvacuation, escape and rescue
- Marine industry
- Vessel
Summary
A construction barge lost its bow/weather anchors during a severe tropical storm while on standby. Nine saturation divers were transferred to a hyperbaric rescue chamber and began accelerated emergency decompression. After tugs restored station keeping, emergency decompression ceased and the divers surfaced safely using their routine profile.
Classifications: Loss of station keeping; drive-off; drift-off.
Classifications: Saturation diving; sat diving.
Classifications: Emergency response; emergency preparedness.
Classifications: Evacuation, escape and rescue; EER; escape and rescue.
Classifications: Marine industry; shipping industry; maritime sector.
Classifications: Vessel; aboard ship; onboard vessel.
Summary
A member has reported an incident in which a construction derrick lay barge lost all of its bow/weather anchors during a severe tropical storm.
IMCA SF 03/13. Themes: diving, emergency response, vessel and mooring.