Safety Flash
Flooding in steering gear compartment
Flooding in steering gear compartment
- IMCA
- Safety Flash
- IMCA SF 24/17
- Emergency ResponseInspection and MaintenanceStructural and Asset Integrity
- Mechanical failureStructural and asset integrityVessel flooding and foundering
- Inspection and maintenance
- Pumps
- Alarm managementEmergency responseFunctional testingEnergy and process isolation
- Marine industry
- Vessel
Summary
Heavy-weather water ingress through a worn towing pin/Karm fork seal flooded a vessel’s steering compartment and caused loss of steering. The flash describes delayed alarm escalation, broken bilge alarm float arms, pumping and equipment isolation. Lessons address alarm response, regular logged compartment inspections and checks of bilge sensor operation.
Classifications: Mechanical failure; equipment failure.
Classifications: Structural and asset integrity; asset integrity; structural integrity.
Classifications: Vessel flooding and foundering; water ingress.
Classifications: Inspection and maintenance; asset inspection; equipment maintenance.
Classifications: Pumps.
Classifications: Alarm management.
Classifications: Emergency response; emergency preparedness.
Classifications: Functional testing; function test.
Classifications: Energy and process isolation; isolation; energy isolation.
Classifications: Marine industry; shipping industry; maritime sector.
Classifications: Vessel; aboard ship; onboard vessel.
Summary
A failed seal allowed heavy-weather water ingress into the steering compartment, causing flooding, loss of steering and equipment isolation.
IMCA SF 24/17. Themes: emergency response, inspection and maintenance, structural and asset integrity.