On 22 May 2024 MV Yuka D A fatality occurred on board the crane cabin of a bulk carrier while anchored at Paradip, India. There were just two run-of-the-mill seafarers tasked with cleaning inside the cargo crane cabins – a common chore once cargo operations are completed. While cleaning, one of the seafarers fell through a bottom window in the crane cabin and fell 12 m onto the deck.

The Seafarer died in spite of prompt medical attention. The seafarer who died in the fall from the crane cabin was subsequently coded as a very serious marine casualty under international maritime rules.

Why Did the Fall Occur from the crane cabin?

It also emerged from the investigation that it was a failure of the bottom window assembly in the crane cabin which led to the accident. That glass and the rubber gasket around it were not meant to support weight. Sailing Alone the seafarer stepped or leaned on the window, which gave way.

The metal surrounding the window was rusty, and the rubber gasket may have been compromised. To add insult to injury, the protective steel grating has been removed for cleaning (it covered the glass).

But in this instance, a handle from an air vent was seized preventing the grating from swinging open and it had to be taken out altogether. This left the delicate glass vulnerable – a key safety barrier was no longer in place.

What Were the Contributing Factors to the crane cabin accident?

In addition to the equipment malfunction, a number of human and procedural mistakes coalesced in the disaster:

• No PPE: LJ while on top, the men are not wearing harnesses and working at a height.
• Design Limitations: The glass window and seal were never intended to bear weight.
• No Warning Signs: There were no signs warning people not to step on the surface.
• Corrosion and wear: Structural members around the window had been deteriorated with rust.
• Barrier Removed: There were no barriers to falling as soon as the grating was removed.
• No Alarms or Shut-Offs: The plant was not prepared with sensors to alert operators if the security barriers had been removed.

In combination, these elements formed a flawless storm leading to the fatal fall from the crane cabin.

For official information, visit the Directorate General of Shipping

What, Specifically, Was Unsafe About This incident involving crane cabin?

The inquiry discovered violations of a number of international safety codes:

• ISM Code, Section 7: The company did not identify risks and develop safe practices.
• ILO Maritime Labor Convention: The vessel operator failed to provide a safe space of work.
• Company: Safety Management System (SMS): There was no risk assessment undertaken directly related to the task of cleaning.

These findings emphasize the necessity of risk assessment on board, for maintenance, and cleaning works that might appear regular but in fact contain a hidden danger in the crane cabin.

Implications for the Maritime Sector

Alt: Safety worker reviews documents near a crane. Preventing falls requires equipment upkeep, training, and awareness for crane safety.

• Every accident offers lessons. The inquiry into this incident held useful lessons for both seafarers and ship-owners:
• Never Take the Guards Off: Signs and guards are safety equipment.
• Regularly Examine Equipment: Corrosion, wear in addition flaws in design repeatedly remain unnoticed until it’s too late.
• Always Wear Your PPE: It only takes something as simple as a safety harness to potentially have saved one man’s life.
• Raise Awareness: Crews should be educated on the limitations of materials — such as glass not meant to bear weight.
• Encourage a Safety Driven Mindset: Preemptive checks and open dialogue minimize the possibility of concealed risks.

When Should Safety Officers Intervene in incidents like those from the crane cabin?

Intervening to prevent such tragedies is the job of the ship’s safety officer. Safety officers must survey the whole of the ship at least once every three months, according to the Code of Safe Working Practices intended for Merchant Seafarers.

But when should you ramp up those inspections?

The work of maintenance takes place at high or awkward positions.

Barricades such as grates or ladders are being dismantled.

Crew Members must inform whatever fittings that are broken or rotted.

Look out for EARLY SIGNS OF EQUIPMENT FAILURE 

A violent inspection program can interrupt wear before it leads to failure, which means you’ll be prepared to raise your rig sooner.

What Is Being Done to Guarantee That the Same Mistake Does Not Occur Again, design-wise, from the crane cabin?

The report called for engineering and procedural changes to avoid a repeat of such incidents:

• Develop interlocks and alarms: These can notify crew members when protective barriers have been taken away.
• Retrofit windows and gratings: Use more robust materials or add seconds bars of steel beneath windows.
• Improve availability: Cleaning can be performed without removing important safety covers.
• Compulsory toolbox briefings: Undertake safety talks before commencement of all high-risk jobs. 

Review the requirements for a document of compliance certification

The Importance of a Proactive Safety Culture

And the proactive approach is being alert and spotting potential dangers before they occur. Lives are lost when safety only reacts to incidents.

A strong safety culture includes:

• Constant crew training and open dialogue around risks.
• Incentive to report the most trivial bugs.
• Tangible evidence of commitment from both officers and management.
• Exchanging lessons learned from events throughout the fleet.

What do Seafarers Need to Know about Working at Height?

• Make sure to always check your PPE before using it.
• Don’t rely on non-structural surfaces, such as glass or lots of thin panels.
• Hook on and anchor to an accepted point.
• When in doubt, request a risk assessment.
• If the safety barrier is not there, do not continue working.
• Read More Seafarers, these are the precautions to avoid accidents during general maintenance tasks and cleaning chores by taking heed with the above steps.

Final Thoughts

Lashing loose is deadly: forgotten functionality leads to death The tragic death of a ships’ worker falling from a crane cabin serves as a stark reminder that even simple maintenance actions can become cases of fatality – when basic safety measures are missed. Maritime safety hangs not only on regulations and gadgets, but on the everyday attitude of a crew toward any task — whatever it may be; simple or complex.

Establishing a maritime training academy to handle ships and a crane cabin in India involves following an arduous, multistage process which is regulated by the Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping), starting from legally setting up of the organisation in the form of either a Section 8 Company or Trust, and arranging large amounts funds, which need to be documented into a comprehensive Project Feasibility Report (PFR).

The main differentiator is the infrastructure: pre-sea courses require a robust independent campus of 10 acres or more with hostels and extensive practical facilities, whereas post-sea modular courses approximately need 5,000 sq. ft. of commercially registered space; both must meet stringent DG Shipping requirements for labs, equipment and classrooms.

Also in this stage the institute has to ensure IMU affiliation for degree courses & recruit experienced faculty holding applicable Certificates of Competency (CoC) and compulsory instructor certification (VICT), attend a final comprehensive inspection by DG Shipping in order to get course approval, ensuring national/international STCW standards. They can learn safety related to crane cabin. Learn about DG shipping RPSLl

By mandating training and inspection and design changes, the industry can avoid these kinds of tragedies and save lives of those who work at sea.Learn how to go about starting a maritime training institute

FAQs

What was the reason for seaman fatality onboard MV Yuka D?

The seafarer then fell through via the glass window of the crane operator’s cabin subsequent tor the protective grating left open, also his weight caused the glass to shatter.

A preventable tragedy?

Yes. It could have been avoided by wearing proper PPE, risk assessments and not taking safety barriers down.

Who’s in command of keeping the flight safe?

Accountability for safe working conditions lies with the shipowner, master in addition to the nominated safety officer.

How frequently do inspections need to be conducted?

At intervals of not more than three months and whenever there are changes in work operations or else damage is discovered.

What are the main prevention measures?

And install interlocks, train crew on a regular basis, enforce PPE use and keep safety barriers in place.