Only a centimetre – an emergency exit hatch blocked by mooring ropes
- Safety Flash
- Published on 27 April 2021
- Generated on 30 June 2025
- IMCA SF 12/21
- 2 minute read
On a vessel alongside in port, an emergency exit hatch was found to be blocked.
What happened?
A team making a daily inspection tour round the vessel found that they could not open an emergency exit hatch providing egress from the engine room to deck on the port side at the stern.
What went wrong?
It was discovered that the hatch was blocked by mooring ropes applied on the mooring bitts.
Please see the second image with the yellow circle. Note that the mooring ropes “only just” get in the way by barely a centimetre. But that centimetre could have been enough to cost someone their life in an emergency.
What were the causes?
Our Member noted the following causes:
- Failure of engineering design – the operation of the emergency exit hatch was not taken into account during the ship building or modification process.
- Lack of inspection – this latent unsafe condition was not revealed during previous safety rounds on board the vessel.
Actions
- Check whether or not your hatches or doors could get “only just” blocked – ensure that all emergency exits on board vessels are inspected, kept unobstructed, have good lighting and are well maintained. Report any potential for blockage – and fix it.
Related Safety Flashes
-
IMCA SF 21/18
17 September 2018
-
-
IMCA SF 14/17
9 June 2017
-
-
IMCA SF 19/15
23 November 2015
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.