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Inquiry into Cruise Ship Death
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a crewman who became trapped with a colleague inside the hull of a cruise ship.
The men, both from the Philippines, were working in a ballast tank at the bottom of the Saga Rose as she was docked at Southampton Cruise Terminal in Hampshire. Firefighters were able to rescue one man, who was given oxygen therapy before being taken to hospital by air ambulance. The other man was unconscious when rescuers arrived and was declared dead at the scene.
It is not known why the men, believed to be engineers, opened the ballast tank. The tank, which holds water to control buoyancy and stability, is out of bounds and staff need written permission and a safety officer to go inside.
One of the men is believed to have climbed inside and was quickly overcome by the stale air. His colleague went to help but also got into difficulty. The incident is being treated as an industrial accident and the MCA is investigating on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has also been informed.
Richard Lowes, a partner at BLB Solicitors said "although we do not know all of the circumstances, this terrible incident not only underlines the importance of having good training and a safe system of work, but also of ensuring that the safe system of work is adhered to. In so many cases that I am involved in the accident is caused by a failure to follow accepted safe practices, often condoned by management".