Technical Alert No.

Issue Date

16-02
04 Jan 2016

TECHNICAL ALERT No. 16-02

IMCA 2014 & 2015 Safety Flashes

1.

Introduction

1.1.

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) exists for the

benefit of its members across the offshore, marine and underwater
engineering industry.

1.2.

The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) is a corresponding member of

IMCA and enjoys close cooperation with IMCA on areas of mutual
concern.

1.3.

IMCA publishes regular Safety Flashes summarising key safety matters

and incidents. Whilst IMCA Safety Flashes specifically address issues in
the offshore industry, many of the lessons learnt from incidents can be
applied to other sectors of shipping.

1.4.

The BMA has been highlighting IMCA Safety Flashes since 2014 and will
continue to highlight future Safety Flashes as they are published1.

1.5.

This Technical Alert summarises all IMCA Safety Flashes from 2014 and
2015 and replaces the existing individual alerts (i.e. Technical Alerts 1409, 14-10, 14-12, 14-14, 14-16, 14-20, 14-21, 14-22, 14-24, 15-03, 1508, 15-11, 15-13, 15-14, 15-16, 15-18, 15-19, 15-21, 15-22, 15-24, 1525, 15-27, 15-28, 15-32, 15-33, 15-34 & 15-35, which are all
withdrawn).

This Technical Alert is provided by the Bahamas Maritime Authority with the aim of highlighting incidents,
lessons learnt and to increase awareness, which may help avoid similar incidents occurring elsewhere. Any
queries on the content of the information provided should be referred to the party providing the information.
Contact:

TECHNICAL ALERT No. 16-02

tech@bahamasmaritime.com

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2.

IMCA Safety Flashes 2014

2.1.

There were 19 IMCA Safety Flashes issued in 2014.

2.2.

Safety Flashes can be downloaded from the IMCA website at:

http://www.imca-int.com/safety-environment-and-legislation/safetyflashes/2014.aspx

2.3.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

IMCA Safety Flash 01/14 - January 2014

Uncontrolled descent of diving bell
High potential dropped object: Rigger struck by falling object
Poor cargo stowage: Material damage on container
First aid injury: Deep cut to forearm

2.4.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

IMCA Safety Flash 02/14 - February 2014

Hose Fire Caused by Flashback in Oxygen & Acetylene Hoses
Fatality in Ballast Water Tank - Working at Height in a Confined Space
Damaged Wire Rope Slings
Vibration-Induced Fatigue on Process Pipework

2.5.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.

IMCA Safety Flash 03/14 March 2014

Loss of Consciousness Due to Exposure to H2S
Dropped Fluorescent Light Tube
Entanglement in Moving or Rotating Machinery
Fire and Subsequent Foundering of Wind Farm Support Workboat
Watertight Doors Left Open at Sea

2.6.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

IMCA Safety Flash 04/14 - April 2014

LTI - Thumb Laceration
Near Miss: Failure to Reconnect Fire Suppression Systems
Oil Spill Incident
Potential Dropped Objects Found Lodged in Holes on a Freight
Container
Lower Stairwell Step Collapses Causing Injury

v.
2.7.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.

Contact:

IMCA Safety Flash 05/14 - April 2014

Decompression Illness (DCI) Incident during Routine Decompression
of Divers from Saturation
RWC: Injury to Foot Caused By Moving Roller
Snubber Failure
EPIRB Precautionary Bulletin
Overloading Leads to Catastrophic Failure of Crane Boom
Misuse of Beam Clamps as an Electrical Earth

TECHNICAL ALERT No. 16-02

tech@bahamasmaritime.com

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2.8.
i.
ii.

IMCA Safety Flash 06/14 - April 2014

Fatality During Air Diving Operations
Near Miss: Strong Sun Glare Contributes to Heavy Impact on Boat
Landing
iii.
Near Miss Incidents during Personnel Transfer to Offshore Renewable
Energy Installations
iv.
Navigational Near Miss in Restricted Visibility
v.
Hand Injury - Grease Injection into Small Finger
vi.
Equipment Damaged by Waterspout
vii.
Pontoon Compartment Explosion on Floating Roof Tanks

2.9.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.

IMCA Safety Flash 07/14 - May 2014

First Aid Injury: Thermos Cup Exploded After being in Hyperbaric
Environment
Hand Injury during Retrieval of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Stored Inside a Compressor Unit
Crane Wire Rope Grip Incorrectly Fitted
Crew Transfer Vessel in Collision with Anchor Wire
Injury Caused by Movement of Wire Rope under Tension
Master Link and Sub-Link Failures on Lifting Equipment

2.10.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.

IMCA Safety Flash 08/14 - June 2014

Crewman Struck by Dropped Object
Unsecured Object Lifted by Helicopter Downwash
Crewman Suffered First Aid Injury during Cutting Operations
Cutting Torch Hose Separates from Flame Arrestor
Near Miss: Potential Fire Hazard from Halogen Lamp

2.11.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.

IMCA Safety Flash 09/14 - June 2014

Serious Dropped Object Incidents
LTI: Serious Hand Injury - Caught in the Bight
First Aid Incident During at Sea Fuel Transfer - Mooring Lines
Vessel Blackout During Close Standby
Pressure Vessel Systems - Response to Fatal Accident

2.12.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

IMCA Safety Flash 10/14 - June 2014

Serious Engine Room Fire Whilst Divers in Saturation
Fire in Engine Room on Platform Supply Vessel
Fire in Engine Space on CTV (Crew Transfer Vessel)
Engine Room Fire

2.13.
i.
ii.

IMCA Safety Flash 11/14 - July 2014

Failure of Master Link during Subsea Lifting Operations
LTI - Hand Severed During Mooring Operations

Contact:

TECHNICAL ALERT No. 16-02

tech@bahamasmaritime.com

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iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
2.14.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
2.15.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
2.16.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
2.17.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.

Contact:

LTI - Severe Hand Injury in Galley

Near Miss: Collapse of ROV Launch & Recovery System (LARS)
Hydraulic Hose Failure Caused Collapse of Heavy Haulage Trailer
Inadequate Snap Hooks on Life Jackets
IMCA Safety Flash 13/14 - July 2014
Bell Re-claim Failure Resulting in Minor Injury
Near Miss: Unauthorised Release of Shore Controlled Mooring Lines
Failure of Lifeboat Release Hook Mechanism
Main ROV Lift Umbilical Parted
Unplanned Vessel Contact with an Installation During Lifting
Operations
Potential Dropped Object - Poor Housekeeping
IMCA Safety Flash 14/14 - August 2014
High Potential Stored Engery Incident: Inner Buoyancy Module Clamp
Failure During Removal
Near Miss: Incorrect Length Retaining Screws Fitted on Divers Helmet
LTI: Trip Incident
LTI: Trip Incident during Routine Task
High Potential Dropped Object Incident
Disposal of Pyrotechnics
Lifting and Rigging Plans
IMCA Safety Flash 15/14 - September 2014
Dropped Object Near Miss - Unsecured Plastic Box fell from Load being
Lifted by Mobile Crane
440V Electrical Shock Incident
Diver Injured after being Trapped Underwater
Alternator Bearing Collapse caused Small Fire
Confined Space Entry - Multiple Fatalities
Marine Safe Australia - Hand Injuries
IMCA Safety Flash 16/14 - October 2014
Near Miss: Engine Room Flooding
Dropped Object Incident
Near Miss: Failure of Diving Helmet Communications Module
Near Miss: Incident Involving Dry Bulk Pressure System
Ruptured Hydraulic Hoses
Injured Party Struck by Tugger Wire Assembly
TECHNICAL ALERT No. 16-02
tech@bahamasmaritime.com

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2.18.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
2.19.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
2.20.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.

IMCA Safety Flash 17/14 - October 2014

LTI: Fall Overboard/Fall from Height
Lithium Battery Pack Explosion
Hydraulic Injection Injuries
Uncontrolled Rotation of 9.6m Reel
Slips, Trips and Falls - Raising Awareness
IMCA Safety Flash 18/14 - November 2014
Failure of Bell Winch Clutch Coupling during Bell Recovery
Master Link Failure during Testing of Overboarding Chute
Hydraulic Umbilical Winch Operation - Trapped Thumb
Injuries Sustained Whilst Trying to Stop Moving Objects
Dropped Object Incidents
Near Miss: Inadequate Insulation of 690V Bars
IMCA Safety Flash 19/14 - December 2014
Injuries due to Failure of Diver's Emergency Gas Cylinder
Confined Space Entry Fatality
Near Miss: Dropped Object from Cargo
Collision and Near Miss Caused by Guard Vessel
Fatality: Worker Hit by Ship Crane during Lifting Operation
Fire in Wheelhouse on Offshore Renewables Crew Transfer Vessel

3.

IMCA Safety Flashes 2015

3.1.

There were 23 IMCA Safety Flashes issued in 2015.

3.2.

Safety Flashes can be downloaded from the IMCA website at:

http://www.imca-int.com/safety-environment-and-legislation/safetyflashes/2015.aspx

3.3.

IMCA Safety Flash 01/15 January 2015, summarises the following

incidents:

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.

Contact:

LTI - Hand Injury during Mooring Operations

Near Miss: Safe Use of Chains in Rigging
Near Miss: Anchoring of Rigging to Uncertified Points
S92 Helicopter Pressure Refuelling Incident
High Potential Dropped Object
TECHNICAL ALERT No. 16-02
tech@bahamasmaritime.com

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vi.
vii.
3.4.

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
3.5.

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
3.6.

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.

Disposal of Flammable Substances with Ignition Sources

Unplanned Release of 960 Litres of Hydraulic Oil
IMCA Safety Flash 02/15 January 2015, summarises the following
incidents:
Dropped Object Near Miss: Falling Crane Block
Dropped Object Near Misses
Dropped Object - Failure of Lump Hammer
Near Miss: Missing Nut and Split Pin on Shackle
Near Miss: Man Overboard
Fatality: Worker Crushed by Engine Piston Assembly
IMCA Safety Flash 03/15 March 2015, summarises the following
incidents:
Capstan Wire Parted during Deployment of Anchor Buoy
Diver Sustains Water Jetting Injury
Near Miss: Supply Vessel in Path of Helicopter Making Approach to
Platform
Near Miss: Manual Handling in the Office
Near Miss: Potential Fall from Height during Launch of Rescue Craft
Man Overboard (MOB) Rescue Lifting Slings Parted
IMCA Safety Flash 04/15 March 2015, summarises the following
incidents:
Electric Shock Incident
LTI during Lifting Operations - Backloading Tubular Cargo
Stored Pressure Release - Hydraulic Oil
Diver Fainted
Near Miss: Quarantine of Fall Arrest Equipment
Fire in Engine Room on Platform Supply Vessel
Near Miss: Draw String on Storm Jacket Drawn into Rotating
Equipment

3.7.

IMCA Safety Flash 05/15 April 2015, summarises the following

incidents:

i.

Fatal Incident during Change-Out of Chain Wheel (Gypsy) on Anchor

Handling Tug Supply (AHTS) Vessel
Lifting Equipment Failure: Objects Dropped into Moonpool
Winch Brake Failure
Routine Task: Badly Cut Finger Changing Mop Head

ii.
iii.
iv.

Contact:

TECHNICAL ALERT No. 16-02

tech@bahamasmaritime.com

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v.
vi.
3.8.

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
3.9.

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

3.10.

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
3.11.

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.

Contact:

Hand Injury during Stowing of Anchor chain

Finger Injury - Pinchpoint - during Hose Handling
IMCA Safety Flash 06/15 May 2015, summarises the following
incidents:
Objects Dropped from Pipelay Tower
Failure of Underwater Pan and Tilt Rotator Unit
Marine Risk Management within the Safety Zone
Near miss Incidents: Crew Transfer Vehicles Approaching Wind
Turbines
Badly Sprained Ankle Resulting in LTI
IMCA Safety Flash 07/15 May 2015, summarises the following
incidents:
Second-Hand Equipment Causes Engine Breakdown
Near Miss: Unexpected Water Ingress during Fault Finding of a
Cracked Water Pipe
Near Miss: Equipment Failure: Broken Mast Arms
Minor damage to pontoon cleat during Crew Transfer Vessel mooring
operations
IMCA Safety Flash 08/15 June 2015, summarises the following
incidents:
Near Miss: Hot Work in No Weld Zone
ROV Main Lift Umbilical Failure
Near Miss: Fire Axe Falls Out of Cabinet, almost Hits a Fireman's Toes
Fatalities: Engine Room Fire Caused by Fuel Spray Ignition
Bulk Hose Drawn into Thruster - Severe Damage and Delay
IMCA Safety Flash 09/15 June 2015, summarises the following
incidents:
"Routine" Task, Non-Routine Result: Batteries Stored Sideways Leak
Battery Acid
"Routine" Activities - Non-Routine Result: Finger Injury during Welding
Near Miss: Trapped Tagline Pins Banksman against Stanchion
Vessel Electrical Equipment Caught Fire
Fire on Offshore Renewables Industry Crew Transfer Vehicle
Aberdeen Harbour: annual Summary of Marine Safety Reports 2013

TECHNICAL ALERT No. 16-02

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3.12.

IMCA Safety Flash 10/15 July 2015, summarises the following

incidents:

i.
ii.

Near Miss: Dropped Object Fell from Crane Boom

Dropped Object Near Miss: Antenna Parts Worked Loose and Fell to
Deck
Control of Sub-Contractor Personnel: Unplanned and Uncertified Lifting
Operations
Poor Storage Leading to Failure and Disintegration of cutting Discs
Daughter Craft Man Overboard Incident
Lithium Battery Contents in Eyes

iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
3.13.

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
3.14.

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
3.15.

i.
ii.
iii.
3.16.

i.

Contact:

IMCA Safety Flash 11/15 August 2015, summarises the following

incidents:
Lost Time Injury (LTI) and Restricted Workday Case (RWC) following
Failure of Diving Bell Door System
Near Miss - Broken Chain on Sling of Personnel Lifting Basket
Uncontrolled Exposure to Hand-Arm Vibration (HAVS)
Mooring Line Failure Resulting in Serious Injury
Near Miss Dropped Object: Protector Plate Drops from Crane
IMCA Safety Flash 12/15 August 2015, summarises the following
incidents:
Near Miss (HIPO): Engine Started and Running whilst Crew Member
Working on Shaft Generator
Finger/Hand Injuries
Collision between Crew Boat and Anchored Barge
Confined Space Entry Fatalities
Thermal Tunnel Buoyancy when Deployed Subsea
IMCA Safety Flash 13/15 September 2015, summarises the following
incidents:
Grounding and Flooding of Ferry - Complacency
LTI - Rigger Struck by Rigging under Tension
Fire Hydrants fitted with Incorrect Coupling Size
IMCA Safety Flash 14/15 September 2015, summarises the following
incidents:
High Potential Incidents and Fatalities in 2014 - International
Association of Oil & Gas Producers (IOGP)
TECHNICAL ALERT No. 16-02
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ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
viii.
3.17.

i.
ii.
iii.
3.18.

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
3.19.

i.
ii.
3.20.

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

3.21.

i.

Contact:

Fall from Height in a Confined Space

Electrical Shock - Failure of Isolations and Barriers
Crewman Struck by Sling during Anchor Handling Operations
Dropped Object Near Miss Lifting
Dropped Object Near Miss: ROV Wire Rope
Confined Space Fatality in Shipyard
Electrician Fatally Electrocuted
IMCA Safety Flash 15/15 October 2015, summarises the following
incidents:
Dropped Objects Fatalities: Workers Struck by Fallen Loads During
Lifting Operations
Incidents Involving Poor Crane Operations
Spillage of Methanol During Cargo Operations
IMCA Safety Flash 16/15 October 2015, summarises the following
incidents:
Older "Norfolk Range" Powder Extinguishers from Before 2009
Cargo Contamination Causing LTIs during Clean-Up
Line of fire injury - Man struck in Face by Hammer
RWC - Caught between: Finger Smashed by Tooling
IMCA Safety Flash 17/15 October 2015, summarises the following
incidents:
High Potential Near Miss: Failure of Lifeboat Release Hook Mechanism
Free-Fall Lifeboat Safety
IMCA Safety Flash 18/15 November 2015, summarises the following
incidents:
Small Change to the Disclaimer for all Safety Flashes
Maintenance of Automatic External Defibrillators (AED)
Three Incidents of Decompression Illness (DCI)
Lost Time Injury (LTI) Following Stored Energy
Subsequent Serious Infection of Wound

Release

and

IMCA Safety Flash 19/15 November 2015, summarises the following

incidents:
Near Miss During Transfer Operations from a crew Transfer vessel
(CTV) to a Turbine Tower
TECHNICAL ALERT No. 16-02
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ii.
iii.
iv.
3.22.

i.
ii.
iii.
3.23.

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
3.24.

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
3.25.
i.
ii.

Rigging Incident: Damage to Bow Hand Rail on a Crew Transfer Vessel

(CTV)
An Error with Fire Flaps Led to Engine Space Flooding, Causing Costly
Damage
Vessel Made Contact with Installation
IMCA Safety Flash 20/15 December 2015, summarises the following
incidents:
Recent Slips, Trips and Falls Involving Stairs
Crewman Falls Down Open Hatchway During Simultaneous Operations
Non-Fatal Man Overboard Incident
IMCA Safety Flash 21/15 December 2015, summarises the following
incidents:
High Potential Near Miss: Safe Working Load (SWL) Plate Fell from
Crane Auxiliary Block
Dropped Object Near Miss: Small Parts Falling From Crane Rest
Fatality During Loading Operations
Near Miss: Corrosion Caused Crane Boom Failure During Heavy Lifting
IMCA Safety Flash 22/15 December 2015, summarises the following
incidents:
Near Miss: Corrosion-Related Failure of Bolts Used to Secure Lifeboat
Winches
Catastrophic Failure of a Pipework Clamp Connector
Confined Space Entry Incidents - A Reminder
Hydraulic Company Sentenced After Employee Loses Sight in One Eye
Near Miss: Contained Hydraulic Oil Spillages from Cranes
Fire Risks Associated With Electical Storage Batteries
IMCA Safety Flash 21/15 December 2015, contains the following:
Safety Flashes: A Summary For 2015
A list of the 2015 Safety Flashes

4.

Validity

4.1.

This alert is valid until further notice.

Contact:

TECHNICAL ALERT No. 16-02

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5.

Revision History

Rev.0 (04 January 2016) First issue

Contact:

TECHNICAL ALERT No. 16-02

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