Investigation Report
Safety warning after accidental release of vinyl chloride monomer from gas carrier
Safety warning after accidental release of vinyl chloride monomer from gas carrier
- MAIB
- Investigation Report
- Unknown
- Hazardous SubstancesHydrocarbon ReleaseProcess Safety
- Hazardous substancesLoss of containmentPressure systemsProcess safety
- Cargo transferFluid transferTank gauging and sampling
- Pressure vesselPumpsValve
- Energy and process isolationOperating and work proceduresOperational supervisionSimultaneous operations coordination
- Marine industry
- Port and quaysideVessel
Summary
This MAIB bulletin describes a vinyl chloride monomer release during cargo sampling aboard Coral Acropora at Runcorn. Inadvertent valve opening transferred cargo into a full tank, raising pressure and releasing cargo through the mast riser. Recommendations address pump supervision, concurrent operations, valve segregation, system double-checking and safety-feature overrides.
Classifications: Hazardous substances; hazardous chemicals; chemical exposure.
Classifications: Loss of containment; containment loss.
Classifications: Pressure systems; stored pressure; pressurised systems; pressurized systems.
Classifications: Process safety; major accident hazards.
Classifications: Cargo transfer; cargo handling.
Classifications: Fluid transfer; fluid loading; fluid offloading.
Classifications: Tank gauging and sampling.
Classifications: Pressure vessel; pressure vessels.
Classifications: Pumps.
Classifications: Valve; valves.
Classifications: Energy and process isolation; isolation; energy isolation.
Classifications: Operating and work procedures.
Classifications: Operational supervision.
Classifications: Simultaneous operations coordination; SIMOPS; simultaneous operations.
Classifications: Marine industry; shipping industry; maritime sector.
Classifications: Port and quayside; quayside; harbour; harbor.
Classifications: Vessel; aboard ship; onboard vessel.
Summary
This documents makes safety recommendations to tanker operators.
Themes: hazardous substances, hydrocarbon release, process safety.