Precautionary tales

Fire in messroom. Toaster left unattended.

During mooring operations whilst operating winch, crewmember released wrong brake and let anchor go, narrowly missing rope handling boat. Poor supervision of inexperienced seaman.

Fire in first-trip Engineer’s cabin on board a ‘smoking’ boat. Heavy smoker. Suspected he took smoke break during his rounds and put match or cigarette end in waste paper basket. Door grille was closed and thus this smouldered for some time.

Deckhand  greasing a windlass motor with power on. Leaned on operating handle and turned motor severing finger.

Captain went ashore in Trinidad and did not return as expected. Mate rang DPA and contacted agents, police, hospitals etc. Captain later appeared saying he’d met a girl ashore and fallen asleep at her house. Breathalysed and found to be considerably in excess of Company’s alcohol levels. Captain was new to the Company and had non-committal references.

Captain collapsed departing a North African port. No possibility of getting a relief so he was landed and the Mate took over. It was later established that the Captain was taking medication for stress.

Stores received including box of ice cream. Cook put it in freezer space. Noticed strange smell and closed the door and advised electrician that he thought the Halon system had discharged into the refrigerator. ETO entered fridge and collapsed.  Later transpired that the box of ice cream actually contained dry ice which had discharged and depleted oxygen in the space.

In a West African port, an overweight female agent tried to board from a pilot ladder. The crew tried to dissuade her but she was determined to board. Fell and injured leg which was later amputated.