Diver emergency decompression following construction barge anchor loss during tropical storm
- Safety Flash
- Published on 30 January 2013
- Generated on 27 August 2025
- IMCA SF 03/13
- 1 minute read
A member has reported an incident in which a construction derrick lay barge lost all of its bow/weather anchors during a severe tropical storm.
What happened?
The incident occurred while the barge was in stand-by mode waiting on weather.
At the given time there were nine divers in saturation. When station keeping was lost due to the parting of the bow/weather anchors, the divers were immediately transferred to the hyperbaric rescue chamber. Given the severity of the circumstances, an accelerated emergency decompression schedule was initiated for the saturation divers, in co-ordination with diving medical specialists. The hyperbaric rescue chamber was not launched.
After a few hours, barge station keeping was regained with two anchors-handling tugs. Further to which, once matters stabilised, emergency decompression was stopped. The divers returned safely to the surface using the ‘routine’ decompression profile. Post-incident medical examinations on the divers were uneventful.
A full investigation is on-going.
IMCA Safety Flashes summarise key safety matters and incidents, allowing lessons to be more easily learnt for the benefit of the entire offshore industry.
The effectiveness of the IMCA Safety Flash system depends on the industry sharing information and so avoiding repeat incidents. Incidents are classified according to IOGP's Life Saving Rules.
All information is anonymised or sanitised, as appropriate, and warnings for graphic content included where possible.
IMCA makes every effort to ensure both the accuracy and reliability of the information shared, but is not be liable for any guidance and/or recommendation and/or statement herein contained.
The information contained in this document does not fulfil or replace any individual's or Member's legal, regulatory or other duties or obligations in respect of their operations. Individuals and Members remain solely responsible for the safe, lawful and proper conduct of their operations.
Share your safety incidents with IMCA online. Sign-up to receive Safety Flashes straight to your email.