By selecting UK flag, you have now set your site language to English. If you'd like to change your language preference again, simply click on one of the other flags.

Close

こちら Japan flag を選択して頂くと、言語設定が日本語に切り替わります。設定変更後は以下の機能が利用可能です。

  • 日本語版ウェブサイトへのクイックアクセスが可能となり、日本語の刊行物をご覧頂けます。

  • 日本語版が閲覧可能な刊行物や記事については、日本語が優先表示されます。表示言語については Japan flag をご参照下さい。

閉じる 言語設定を切り替えたい場合には、国旗のマークをクリックして下さい。

By selecting Japan flag, you have now set your language to Japanese. This has several benefits, including:

  • Providing quick access to our Japan page, which collates all our Japanese content in one place.

  • Ensures that content is presented to you in Japanese first, if we have an article, publication or webpage available in Japanese. Look out for the Japan flag indicators across the site.

Close If you’d like to change your language preferences again, simply click on one of the other flags.

点击选择 China flag,可将网站语言设置为中文。这能帮助您:

  • 快速访问我们的中国区页面,该页面将有网站内容的中文汇总。

  • 在我们的文章、出版物或者网页有中文版本提供的情况下,确保首先向您展示的是中文版本的内容。您可关注站点上的 China flag 按键。

关闭 点击任意其他国旗,可切换您的语言偏好。

By selecting China flag, you have now set your language to Chinese. This has several benefits, including:

  • Providing quick access to our China page, which collates all our Chinese content in one place.

  • Ensures that content is presented to you in Chinese first, if we have an article, publication or webpage available in Chinese. Look out for the China flag indicators across the site.

Close If you’d like to change your language preferences again, simply click on one of the other flags.

North has merged with Standard Club to form NorthStandard.
Find out more about NorthStandard here or continue on this site to access information and resources.

Safe Working on CO2 Systems

Add
PDF

A recent incident that resulted in the deaths of ten people on board a vessel has highlighted the dangers of not fully understanding the operation of fixed CO2 systems.

The incident

This occurred whilst the vessel was in dry dock. A junior officer was tasked with getting details of the fixed systems CO2 bottles in the vessel’s CO2 room. While the junior officer was in the CO2 room, he discovered a leak from one of the cylinders. In an attempt to stem the leak, a pressure increasing valve was mistakenly opened, which increased the pressure in the system and resulted in the release of all the cylinders in that bank.

The system had a final distribution valve to the engine room which was initially closed but subsequently opened in error. This led to the occupied engine room being flooded with CO2.

Preventing incidents

To prevent incidents occurring when working with or on fixed CO2 systems, it is critical that the all persons involved are aware of the risks.

Any maintenance – planned or unplanned – that is to be carried out on the system must be appropriately risk assessed with the necessary control measures in place in accordance with the vessel’s safety management system (SMS) and the manufacturer’s recommendations.

IMO guidelines on the maintenance and inspection of fixed carbon dioxide fire-fighting systems (MSC.1/Circ.1318) considers who should carry out the maintenance and repairs.

It recommends that the onboard maintenance plan should indicate which tasks may be performed by competent crew members and which should be performed by specially-trained persons.

The guidelines also stress the importance of developing a safety plan prior to commencing any work on the system. The plan should:

  • allow for all personnel to be accounted for,
  • establish an effective communications system between those working on the system and the on-duty crew,
  • identify measures to avoid accidental discharges such as locking or removing the operating arms from directional valves or shutting and locking the system block valve, and;
  • ensure all personnel are notified of the impending activities before work is begun.

Operating instructions and valve identification

The Fire Safety Systems Code (FSS) states that clear operating instructions should be adjacent to each and every CO2 system release point location.

Labelling of critical system components can help ensure that the system is correctly operated in the event of an emergency. Colour-coded controls is a useful way to identify the controls for a particular discharge zone.

Risks of CO2 rooms

CO2 rooms themselves present a risk because of the high volume of CO2 stored in a relatively small area. Therefore, entry into the room should be controlled and the space gas tested prior to and during entry. The vessel’s SMS should contain procedures and control measures for entering CO2 rooms.


By

David Patterson
Loss Prevention Executive

Welcome to

We've merged with Standard Club to form NorthStandard, this means a new name and look for us, and even better service, support, and cover for you.

You can find out more about NorthStandard on our new website here. As part of the NorthStandard Group, please continue to use nepia.com for your industry news, publications and expertise as well as club rules and contacts.