Seatrade Maritime: InterManager urges seafarers to take enclosed-space safety survey

InterManager has urged seafarers to participate in its global survey to better understand why fatal incidents in enclosed spaces continue to happen, despite regulatory changes, long-standing training requirements, and focus campaigns by Port State Control.

The renewed call follows recent amendments to IMO resolution A.1050(27) adding information on the causes and spread of oxygen-depleted environments, better emergency response plans, enhanced training,  and individual risk assessments for each enclosed space.

According to InterManager statistics, in 2023 there were 14 enclosed-space incidents reported resulting in 34 fatalities, almost double the number recorded in 2022. The incidents often follow a similar pattern; a person is incapacitated in the oxygen-depleted environment of an enclosed space, then colleagues rush to their aid and succumb to the same hazard themselves.

Speaking to Seatrade Maritime News, Captain Kuba Szymanski, secretary general of InterManager said focussing on the seafarer response to their colleague was the wrong way to look at such tragedies. Humans are wired to act selflessly and help one another in emergencies, he said, and while emergency response training is an important part of the solution, the focus should be on preventing unnecessary and unwitting access to enclosed spaces. Beyond the control of seafarers, poor ship design and ventilation have also played a role in past fatal incidents, he added.

InterManager’s survey, conducted in co-operation with The Nautical Institute and IMarEST, seeks honest, first-hand insight from those who face these risks daily. The aim is to identify what barriers remain in practice, not just on paper.

“We’ve been discussing enclosed-space safety for many years, and despite the rules, people are still dying in confined spaces at sea,” said Szymanski. “The IMO has now strengthened its rulings, but we need to hear from those on the front line to understand what’s really happening onboard. Please take part and share your experiences.”