TMS Awards 2023Geneva DryViganTBA GroupPort of South LouisianaVan Aalst
  • Telestack
  • Bühler GmbH
  • Geneva Dry
  • Cimbria
  • Port of Stockton
  • Vigan

InterManager welcomes IMO commitment on enclosed space risks

InterManager welcomes IMO commitment on enclosed space risks

(Posted on 29/11/22)

InterManager has welcomed a commitment by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to review guidance governing safe working in enclosed spaces onboard ships.

Heralding the move as a significant step forward in crew safety, the association says it will work with the IMO, Flag States, and other maritime partners to ensure that lessons are learned from the many fatalities which have occurred in enclosed spaces and also, new legislation is workable and effective.

InterManager submitted a comment paper to the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) 106 meeting, co-sponsored by a number of industry partners, in response to China’s proposal to revise IMO Resolution A.1050(27) which sets out recommendations for entering enclosed spaces aboard ships. InterManager’s paper highlighted additional information which it believes should be considered and provided high level information relating to enclosed space incidents.

The ship and crew management trade body has been collating statistics on deaths and accidents in enclosed spaces since 1999 and reports that during this period, enclosed spaces have claimed the lives of 122 seafarers and 45 shore workers. However, InterManager Secretary General, Captain Szymanski, fears these figures could be higher still and says he believes there is under-reporting by shipping authorities.

“This is an opportunity for the shipping industry, led by the IMO, to comprehensively assess the dangers posed by the range of enclosed space and oxygen-depleted areas onboard ships and to make meaningful recommendations which will remove or reduce risk, backed up by robust procedures that should aim to ensure no seafarer or shore worker dies while carrying out their jobs,” he said.

In its submission, InterManager and its co-sponsors recommend that the IMO Resolution A.1050(27) be considered by suitably competent sub-committees which should also consider emergency drills for enclosed spaces, the carriage of gas detection equipment on board ships, and MSC.1/Circ.1401 dealing with vessels inerted with nitrogen, plus the associated risks and hazards. It advises re-examination of previous submissions to address issues already raised, such as cargo hold gas monitoring, an appreciation of oxygen depleting cargos, cargos which are fumigated and cargos which emit toxic gas.

It states: “The scope of the revision needs to be broad and comprehensive in order to take into account both the human element and ship design factors that have contributed to previous enclosed space incidents. This would undoubtedly mitigate against, and hopefully prevent, such incidents occurring in the future.”

The submission highlights a need to consider design of access as a means of reducing the number of such incidents, pointing out the risks posed by areas such as

hold access ladders, specifically the enclosed trunk ladder (occasionally referred to as the ‘Australian Ladder’).

InterManager points out that previous submissions on enclosed space risks have discussed “the repetitive systemic nature of the enclosed space incidents” and this is a matter that InterManager has campaigned about, urging the shipping industry to delve deeper into accident investigations to look at the ‘why’ as well as the ‘how’.

The submission draws attention to industry-led investigations into enclosed space accidents, commenting: “These reviews have resulted in the emergence of several distinct themes focussing on; design and construction, gas evolution, movement and entrapment within the ship structure, and the human element prevalent in many enclosed space incidents, such as the rush to rescue a single casualty resulting in the death of many, the disregard of procedures and local adaptation of unsafe practices. Likewise, it has been identified that in many cases ship and shore personnel are subject to time pressure which may result in them rushing or missing checks to meet artificial deadlines which often result in entry into spaces for which they are not fully prepared.   These aspects have resulted in countless casualties where a known breach of procedure, (just a ‘quick look inside!’) in an enclosed space, has often ended in further loss of life.”

Latest News

Better safeguarding measures needed to support cadets at sea

(Posted on 07/05/25)

Cadets are increasingly struggling to complete their cadetships due to a shortage of available placements... Read more


Algoma focuses on reliable service and fleet improvements

(Posted on 07/05/25)

Algoma Central Corporation has reported its results for the three months ended March 31, 2025. Algoma... Read more


ClassNK releases ‘Prime Shipmanagement Guidelines’

(Posted on 01/05/25)

ClassNK has released ‘Prime Shipmanagement Guidelines’ which aim to achieve sustainable... Read more


MCTC ensures quality remains at top of the table amid global tensions

(Posted on 30/04/25)

In the face of unpredictable provisioning costs, port disruptions, and longer lead times MCTC has reinforced... Read more


NORDEN raises full-year guidance for 2025

(Posted on 28/04/25)

On the back of the increased gains from sales of vessels and good operational performance, NORDEN, a... Read more


INTERCARGO welcomes ILO recognition of seafarers as key workers

(Posted on 28/04/25)

The International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO) has welcomed the recent decision... Read more


MMS advises why seafarers must remain vigilant about malaria

(Posted on 25/04/25)

Despite its lack of publicity, malaria remains an ongoing epidemic and a perilous threat to seafarers... Read more


Veson: Bulker S&P activity falls sharply in Q1 2025

(Posted on 22/04/25)

Due to market uncertainty, overall sale and purchase levels for Bulkers have fallen year on year, with... Read more


Britannia Group announces CEO succession plan

(Posted on 22/04/25)

The Britannia Group, a leading P&I insurer, has announced that its Chief Executive, Andrew Cutler... Read more


INTERCARGO responds to IMO's decision on GHG reduction measures

(Posted on 15/04/25)

At last week's landmark MEPC 83 meeting, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Member States... Read more


Port of StocktonSailors SocietyBühler GmbHCimbriaTelestack
  • TBA Group
  • Port of South Louisiana
  • Van Aalst

Subscribe to our newsletter

Keep up to date with the latest global news in bulk cargo handling and shipping