Restoration and verification after maintenance
- Safety Flash
- Published on 1 October 2026
- Generated on 1 October 2026
- IMCA SF 17/26
- 2 minute read
A missing flooring panel was identified beneath a 415V bow thruster electrical motor cabinet.
What happened?
During a vessel inspection, a missing flooring panel was identified beneath a 415V bow thruster electrical motor cabinet. The panel had been removed to facilitate maintenance work, and had not been put back afterwards. It was also observed that water piping located directly beneath the cabinet lacked adequate splash protection. This created a potential risk of water ingress into electrical equipment and increased the likelihood of electrical failure, short circuit, or personnel injury.
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| Bow thruster control cabinet | Cooling pipeline located directly below the cabinet |
Why did it happen?
- There was inadequate coordination between maintenance personnel, contractors, and supervisors, which led to the unsafe condition remaining unaddressed after the work was completed.
- Post-maintenance inspections and housekeeping checks failed to identify the missing flooring panel.
- Work planning and risk assessment did not adequately consider the exposure of electrical equipment to potential fluid hazards once the flooring was removed.
- Insufficient supervision during the final stages of the maintenance activity.
What do we learn?
- Check carefully and thoroughly after finishing maintenance and modification activities, that structural and safety protections are fully restored before equipment is returned to service.
- Have a formal sign-off or completion procedure: Final inspections, housekeeping checks, and permit close-out verifications are useful for confirming that work areas have been restored to a safe condition.
- Electrical equipment located above or below fluid or cooling pipework should be adequately protected against leakage and splash hazards.
Related Safety Flashes
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IMCA SF 04/14
4 April 2014
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IMCA SF 21/18
17 September 2018
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IMCA SF 20/24
14 October 2024
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