2011X56 Hatch Cover Death

Hatch Cover Death
Britannia Steam Ship Insurance Report 2003

The following report is taken from RISK WATCH Volume 10 produced by the Britannia Steam Ship Insurance Association.

Hatch cover death

Whilst this death was partly the fault of the foreman, it could have been avoided if the ship's crew involved had followed some simple safety procedures.

Just prior to the accident, the ship's Chief Officer had told the Third Officer to stand-by to close No.4 hatch as soon as the longshoremen had finished the evening shift and exited from the hold. Hatch No.4 'piggy backs' on hatch No.5 and both hatches move across a transverse walkway between the hatches as they move forward to cover No.4 hold.

The Third Officer stationed himself at the forward end of No.4 hold, from where he could see the longshoremen leaving the hold. An AB accompanied the Third Officer. Both men then moved to the aft of No.5 hold to the hatch cover control. Although the two men claim to have checked the transverse walkway between the two holds, they did not see the stevedore foreman and the supercargo standing on the transverse walkway between holds Nos.4 and 5.
When the AB saw the last longshoreman leave the hold, he signaled to the Third Officer that the hatch could be closed. The supercargo heard the hatch covers start to move and dived down on to the main deck. Unfortunately, the stevedore foreman did not react so quickly and was fatally injured by the moving hatch covers.

Both the stevedore foreman and the supercargo must bear some blame for the accident for failing to make the officer of the watch, in this case the Third Officer, aware of their presence. At the same time, the Third Officer should have ensured that the AB was standing at the leading edge of the hatch covers, i.e, at the transverse walkway, so that he had a clear view of any obstructions that may have impeded the closing of the covers. The AB should have moved forward in advance of the hatch for the same purpose. In addition, the two men should have been in contact by walkie-talkie, rather than relying on communication by hand signals alone.