Safety Flash
Fatality and multiple injuries: Flash fire incident onboard pipelay barge
Fatality and multiple injuries: Flash fire incident onboard pipelay barge
- IMCA
- Safety Flash
- IMCA SF 11/19
- ExplosionHot Work and FireIsolationPressure Systems
- FireLoss of containment
- Inspection and maintenance
- Operating and work procedures
- Marine industry
- Vessel
Summary
A safety flash describes a vapour-cloud fire during attempts to remove a stuck piston from polypropylene coating equipment aboard a pipelay barge. Fourteen people were injured and one later died. With investigation ongoing, recommendations address polypropylene temperature limits, integrated heating controls and manufacturer consultation on permissible repairs.
Classifications: Fire; fire safety.
Classifications: Loss of containment; containment loss.
Classifications: Inspection and maintenance; asset inspection; equipment maintenance.
Classifications: Operating and work procedures.
Classifications: Marine industry; shipping industry; maritime sector.
Classifications: Vessel; aboard ship; onboard vessel.
Summary
A vapour cloud ignited while a pressurised accumulator was being dismantled, causing multiple injuries and one subsequent death.
IMCA SF 11/19. Themes: explosion, hot work and fire, isolation, pressure systems.