B SAFE Seafarer Health BSAFE INCIDENT CASE STUDY 21: MISMANAGEMENT OF MEDICAL CONDITION ON BOARD Published: 23 November 2023 A TRAGIC INCIDENT UNFOLDED ON BOARD A BULK CARRIER, CLAIMING THE LIFE OF A CADET WHO HAD SPENT THREE MONTHS ON BOARD. THE 34-YEAR-OLD TRAGICALLY LOST HIS LIFE AFTER INHALING HYDROCARBON FUMES EMITTED FROM A BUNKER TANK VENT WHILE THE TANKS WERE BEING HEATED. THE SHIP’S MANAGEMENT TEAM INITIALLY MISJUDGED THE SEVERITY OF THE CADET’S ILLNESS, LEADING TO A CRITICAL DELAY IN PROVIDING THE NECESSARY MEDICAL TREATMENT AND ADVICE. WHAT HAPPENED On 12 November 2022, aboard a bulk carrier off the western coast of Africa, a sequence of events unfolded that tragically led to the death of the deck cadet (DC). At the time of the incident, the ship was carrying approximately 46,000 MT of Nickel Ore, with the no. 5 cargo hold loaded to an estimated 47%. The ship had several Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) tanks, including the no. 2 HFO tank (port), which emitted vapours from vents with approximately 170 MT low Sulphur fuel (0.49% of Sulphur content). The ship’s chief officer (CO) tasked the fitter with conducting repairs in the no. 5 cargo hold, and both began preparations around 0800 hours. They noticed a strong smell of fumes emanating from a vent associated with the no. 2 HFO tank port. The fitter assured the DC that the repair wouldn’t take long, and the work began once the bosun opened the hatch cover, taking approximately 15 to 20 minutes. The DC assisted the fitter by passing equipment into the cargo hold while standing near the HFO tank vent on the main deck. Both exited the cargo hold around 1115 hours, with the DC expressing discomfort. The following day, the DC reported feeling unwell to the CO, mentioning a headache and attributing it to inhaling fumes from the HFO tank vent the previous day. The CO advised rest and informed the ship’s master. The DC’s condition gradually worsened over the next few days, marked by reduced food consumption and diarrhoea. Eff