Transport Malta investigation: Fatal heat exhaustion attack for crew of bulk carrier ELPIDA GR

The incident

ÖOn July 27, 2023, the Elpida GR was moored in the port of Mesaieed, Qatar. While the first mooring lines were being led ashore, the boatswain and two other crew members of the forward mooring station collapsed one after another. These crew members were taken to the accommodation where they were cared for by other crew members. After the vessel had moored, the Chief Officer reported that he too was feeling unwell.

All four crew members were transferred from shore rescue boats to a shore ambulance and taken to a local hospital. The boatswain was pronounced dead by paramedics, which was confirmed at the hospital. All four crew members were diagnosed with heat exhaustion. The safety investigation concluded that the long hours of physical labor on deck in hot and humid weather most likely contributed to the crew members’ collapse.

The MSIU has issued a recommendation to the company aimed at providing crew members with a pleasant environment on board.
The MSIU has also made two recommendations to the flag State administration: to submit a document to the HTW Sub-Committee providing for specific training for seafarers on the on-board treatment of victims of heat stroke/hyperthermia in the relevant IMO Model Courses and to issue an Information Notice recommending that the relevant medical guides referred to in the STCW Code and the IMO Model First Aid and Medical Care Courses be carried on board Maltese ships.

analysis

Purpose

The purpose of a ship safety investigation is to determine the circumstances and safety factors of the accident in order to make recommendations to prevent further accidents or incidents at sea in the future.

Cooperation

During this safety investigation, MSIU received the necessary support and cooperation from the Ministry of Transport of Qatar.

Conclusions

Findings and safety factors are not listed in any particular order of priority.

Immediate cause of occurrence

• The crew members suffered from heat exhaustion and the boatswain suffered heat stroke, which led to his death.

Conditions and other safety factors

• The high temperatures and humidity around the time the ship docked would have affected the crew members.
• Given the long working hours spent cleaning the cargo holds and the uncomfortably warm temperatures in the accommodation, which did not allow the crew members to have sufficient rest, it could not be ruled out that several members of the cleaning team also
  Tiredness when the ship docked in Mesaieed.
• Apparently, the crew members were not aware of all the measures to be taken in the event of heat stroke, in particular the need to cool the injured person’s body with water and ice. In addition, under the circumstances, the crew members were unable to consult the medical publications available on board and find this information there.
• Although all crew members are believed to have received appropriate training in first aid and medical care, the safety investigation found that training in assisting a victim of heat stroke did not appear to be included in the IMO Model Basic First Aid Course, nor was it further emphasized in the IMO Model Medical Care Course. While the Medical First Aid Course covers the treatment of heat stroke, its compendium did not appear to include the relevant section from the International Medical Guide for Ships.

Further findings

1. Given the impacts of climate change, it is expected that there will be an increase in such incidents on board ships, especially when
   that the reason for the sun and heat stress on the crew members lies in the nature of the tasks on board. In addition, acclimatization
   several weeks and it is highly unlikely that crew members on board a ship will have the opportunity to acclimatise effectively.
2. Carrying the Masters Medical Guide is compulsory for Maltese registered vessels, while the International Masters Medical Guide is compulsory for
   Ships is not listed as a mandatory publication to be carried on board Maltese registered ships. The compendiums of IMO Model Courses on First Aid and
   Medical care includes only extracts from the latter.

Measures taken

Safety measures taken during the safety investigation

Following the incident, the company took the following actions:

1. reviewed and revised the Safety Management System (SMS) manual to include a section on “Working in hot environments” and a corresponding checklist, together with
   with the precautionary measures to be taken;
2. issued a circular to the fleet containing information and instructions on heat illness; and
3. has created and distributed posters throughout the fleet to raise awareness of dehydration.

recommendations

In view of the conclusions reached and taking into account the security measures taken by the Company in the course of the safety investigation,

The company is recommended:

10/2024_R1 ensure that its vessels are adequately equipped to provide a comfortable environment for crew members, through regular visits to
Company representatives and/or communication with the captain, especially when the vessel is operating in high/low temperature regions.

The administration of the flag State is recommended:

10/2024_R2 Submission of a document to the IMO HTW Subcommittee proposing to include enhanced training of seafarers in on-site heat management
Stroke/hyperthermia victims on board, taking into account the predicted impacts of climate change.

10/2024_R3 issues an Information Notice recommending that the latest edition of the International Medical Guide for Ships and associated publications (or, where applicable, the newly published International Medical Guide for Seafarers and Fishermen) be carried on board Maltese registered vessels.

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