Poor control of work in dry dock
- Safety Flash
- Published on 27 February 2023
- Generated on 24 May 2026
- IMCA SF 06/23
- 1 minute read
A member reports several cases of hot work and other activities being conducted by contractors on a vessel hull during dry dock/maintenance activities, in which the work was not fully or appropriately under the control of vessel management.
What happened?
A member reports several cases of hot work and other activities being conducted by contractors on a vessel hull during dry dock/maintenance activities, in which the work was not fully or appropriately under the control of vessel management.
Examples included mesh cutting, pad-eye welding works on a vessel’s hull, and an empty PTW station.
What went wrong?
Discussion revealed a significant misunderstanding amongst the crew, that activities conducted outside the vessel and in the dry dock itself would be controlled by contractors with no involvement of vessel management.
The potential hazards to vessel and crew were not considered.
Causes
- Lack of control of third-party activities: contractors working on the vessel hull were left unattended.
- Lack of Task Risk Assessment: risk assessment was too generic and did not cover task specific issues.
- Both company standards and procedures and locally applicable safety requirements were not followed.
Related safety flashes
-
IMCA SF 04/23
9 February 2023
-
IMCA SF 32/21
25 November 2021
-
-
IMCA SF 26/21
22 September 2021
-
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.