Marine Safety Alert

USCG Marine Safety Alert 08‑26: Marine Boiler Burner Inspection and Operational Safety

The U.S. Coast Guard issued Safety Alert 08-26 after a cargo vessel suffered a major engine room fire. Investigators traced the incident to a high-pressure fuel leak and a burner control system configuration error. The alert urges vessel operators to inspect burner fuel systems, verify shutdown sequences, maintain software configurations, and protect fuel systems from … Read more

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.”

USCG Marine Safety Alert: Confined Spaces: Silent & Invisible Killers

The Inspections and Compliance Directorate issued Marine Safety Alert 04-19, “Confined Spaces: Silent & Invisible Killers” to remind mariners that despite decades of work to improve confined space entry by maritime safety organizations, training institutions, and vessel owners/operators, the risks have not been eliminated. This is illustrated by a recent casualty where three persons were asphyxiated while working onboard a laid-up Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU).


https://mariners.coastguard.dodlive.mil/2019/04/17/4-17-2019-marine-safety-alert-confined-spaces-silent-invisible-killers/