Blocked emergency exit hatch
- Safety Flash
- Published on 11 January 2023
- Generated on 26 August 2025
- IMCA SF 02/23
- 2 minute read
An engine room emergency exit hatch could not be opened.
What happened?
The emergency exit hatch providing egress from the engine room to the vessel’s main deck on the starboard side at the stern, was found blocked during the Master’s routine inspection/walkaround. The hatch could not be opened from the engine room compartment.
Figure 1: Emergency exit hatch was blocked by wire ropes
What went right?
This serious issue was swiftly discovered and corrected following a regular “safety walk-around”.
What went wrong?
It was discovered that the hatch was blocked by wire ropes left on top of it during recent spooling works on the main deck area.
These activities had been observed on deck, as part of the anchor handling preparation process conducted by a contractor party.
The used wires left on top of the emergency hatch were not noticed by the deck crew.
Lessons learned
- Keep emergency escape routes free of obstructions and in a safe condition at all times.
- Better control of third-party activities onboard.
- Hold regular “cold eyes” or cross-departmental reviews and safety walk-arounds. You may be surprised at what the Cook will discover on a walk round the back deck, or what the Third Engineer will spot on a visit to the bridge wing.
- Imagine yourself in the position of the person who might be trapped by that stuck hatch. What can YOU do to make sure that never happens?
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