USCG MARINE SAFETY ALERT: IMPORTANCE OF ADHERING TO HOT WORK PROCEDURES & IMPLEMENTING ROBUST LOCKOUT/TAGOUT PROGRAMS

“A recent marine casualty, resulting in a fire and severe injuries to two crewmembers, highlights the risks associated with Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), performing hot work in hazardous zones, and the necessity of maintaining a robust lockout/tagout program.”

USCG Marine Safety Alert: Warning: Ensure a Gas-Free Environment Prior to Conducting Hot Work

“Coast Guard Sector Honolulu and Hawaii State Fire Investigators are examining a recent marine
diesel fuel tank explosion on an uninspected commercial fishing vessel (CFV) moored for
maintenance at a state-regulated facility. The explosion injured five individuals and resulted in
one fatality.

Preliminary findings reveal that the vessel did not adhere to the “Hot Works” permit guidelines
issued by the State Department of Transportation (DOT), which authorized work on a water tank
hatch, engine room stairs, and spotlights. Witnesses confirmed welding was performed on a fuel
tank vent pipe that was neither certified gas-free nor “Safe for Hot Work” by a certified marine
chemist, as required by the permit. Consequently, diesel fuel vapors ignited, causing the
explosion.”

New Chemist Joins Team

We would like to announce the addition of Casey Rawson, CMC 742, to our team! We first met Casey several years ago when he was interning at Detyens Shipyards, Inc.  He then trained with us for a couple of weeks in May of last year prior to becoming certified in August.  He performed hundreds of … Read more

NAVSEA: “Shipboard fire a constant threat: Bonhomme Richard tragedy an enduring lesson in fire prevention, response”, by Ben Hutton, PSNS & IMF Public Affairs

“July 12, 2020 was a lazy Sunday morning at Naval Base San Diego. USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), which had been commissioned only two years earlier, had recently made the base its new homeport and was docked as it underwent a maintenance availability.

But, the silence of that morning was rocked by an explosion a few minutes before 9 a.m., changing everything for the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship…”

Hutto, B. (2023, March 16). Shipboard fire a constant threat: Bonhomme Richard tragedy an enduring lesson in fire prev. Naval Sea Systems Command. https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Media/News/Article-View/Article/3329366/shipboard-fire-a-constant-threat-bonhomme-richard-tragedy-an-enduring-lesson-in/

WISER Discontinuation

Effective today, February 28, 2023, the National Library of Medicine (NLM) has discontinued the Wireless Information System for Emergency Responders (WISER) website and applications.  Users will still be able to access and utilize installed copies of WISER desktop and mobile applications; however, application data will no longer be updated by NLM.  WISER was an excellent … Read more