NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE
SHIP REGISTER: PEOPLE DIE BUT WE DON’T ‘APPORTION BLAME’!
Not even ‘a wrap over the knuckles’ that is the outcome of an investigation into the deaths of several crew members on a Manx registered vessel the bulk carrier Sally Ann C. Two men the chief officer and chief engineer died on board the ship in March this year.
A casualty report into the incident published by the Isle of Man Ship registry highlights a number of factors that led to the tragedy including incomplete safety management system and a lack of warning signs in the hold where the men died of asphyxiation (link):
https://www.gov.im/lib/docs/ded/shipregistry/formsdocs/reports/casualty/sallyannccasualtyinvestigation.pdf
The report sets out in the ‘foreword’:
“The fundamental purpose of investigating a casualty, an accident or an incident under the Regulations1 is to determine its circumstances and the cause with the aim of
improving the safety of life at sea and the avoidance of accidents in the future.
It is not the purpose to apportion liability, nor, except so far as is necessary to achieve the fundamental purpose, to apportion blame.”
But the question must be posed why there is no apportioning of blame is life so cheap at sea!
We set out below the death toll over the last decade and ask if this had happened in (for example) the construction industry on the Isle of Man would it be tolerated?
List of deaths and injuries in past decade:
Nordic Visby 2014 1 death (Electrocution)
Sharp Lady 2013 1 death (Asphyxiation) I injury
Ostende Max 2009 3 injuries (9 men died on the Formosaproduct Brick a Liberian registered tanker which was in collision with the Ostende Max)
CEC Pacific 2005 1 injury
Jokulfell 2005 11 deaths (Ship sank after cargo shifted)
Sallie Knutsen 2005 I death (Man crushed after crane failure)
Please note in relation to the Jokulfell deaths Celtic League corresponded with IMO, Isle of Man government and Danish government at length in 2006 raising concerns particularly in relation to the SAR after the vessel sank
BERNARD MOFFATT
Issued by: The Celtic News
02/10/15
THE CELTIC LEAGUE INFORMATION SERVICE
The Celtic League established in 1961 has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It promotes cooperation between the countries and campaigns on a range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights human rights abuse, military activity and socio-economic issues
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