Case study: Serious burnt injury of two tug boat crew members

The tug boat had a double burner cooking stove in the galley. The stove was connected to a gas cylinder that generate open flame when the stove burner was ignited. At the material time, two crew members were in the galley. One of them ignited the right burner and flame diffused the stove area and set him on fire. The flash fire also spread across the galley and burned the other crew member. Both suffered serious burnt injuries.

Regulations

1. Singapore-Registered Ships (SRS) non-convention ship are bound by the Merchant Shipping (Non-Convention Ships) Safety Regulations (“Regulations”). In relation to open flame gas appliances, Chapter II-2, r. 4(3) of the Regulations stipulate: Open flame gas appliances, except cooking stoves …, shall not be permitted. Spaces containing any such stoves … shall have adequate ventilation to remove fumes and possible gas leakage to a safe place. All pipes conveying gas from container to stove … shall be of steel or other approved material. Automatic safety gas shut-off devices shall be fitted to operate on loss of pressure in the gas main pipe or flame failure on any appliance.

2. Based on r. 4(3) above:

     a. The tug boat’s double-burner stove with gas cylinder is an open flame gas appliances which is permitted on board.

          b. However, the permission to have cooking stoves on board must fulfil the following conditions:

i. The spaces where the stoves are located shall have adequate ventilation to remove fumes and possible gas leakage to a safe place;

ii. All pipes conveying gas from container to stove shall be of steel or other approved material; and

iii. Automatic safety gas shut-off devices shall be fitted to operate on loss of pressure in the gas main pipe or flame failure on any appliance.

Why did it happen?

Although the tug boat in this case is allowed to have cooking stoves, her cooking stoves arrangement did not comply with the entire r. 4(3) above.

Photographs below show the double burner cooking stove and gas cylinder that do not comply with the above Regulations.

Note: Further checks revealed that the tug boat’s galley had an electric hotplate arrangement, that was malfunction. Instead of repairing the said arrangement, an acrylic panel was placed above the hotplates to form a base for the double burner stove.

Conclusion

Non-convention SRS owners and managers are to ensure compliance with the above legislative requirements in relation to having cooking stove on board. Failure to comply is a statutory offence which the offender will be penalised accordingly. This case serves as a reminder to non-convention SRS owners and managers to ensure compliance with the above Regulations.