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Chemical spill leads to costly deck replacement - DEV imca
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Chemical spill leads to costly deck replacement

What happened?

The USCG has published Marine Safety Alert 01-17 relating to hazards from chemical spills. USCG inspectors found several cracks and parted seams in the aluminium braces of the structure underneath a vessel’s cargo deck. They learned that there had been a caustic soda* spill on the deck. While it was washed off the vessel with water, a diluted caustic soda and water mix seeped into and settled underneath the wood planking. A chemical reaction then occurred, causing damage and the need for extensive repairs.

As can be seen in this case, in addition to potential health risks to personnel involved with routine handling and clean-up of spills, there is also the potential for adverse chemical reactions with vessel components, construction materials, and other items on-board. The full alert can be found on the USCG website.

*Caustic Soda (Sodium Hydroxide, NaOH) is highly reactive with aluminium, causing it to oxidize and corrode quickly. Additionally, when caustic soda is exposed to aluminium under some conditions it can also produce highly flammable hydrogen gas.

IMCA has published a pocket safety card entitled Hazardous substances safety guide. Members may wish to refer to the following incidents:

Safety Event

Published: 27 June 2017
Download: IMCA SF 16/17

Relevant life-saving rules:
IMCA Safety Flashes
Submit a Report

IMCA Safety Flashes summarise key safety matters and incidents, allowing lessons to be more easily learnt for the benefit of all. The effectiveness of the IMCA Safety Flash system depends on Members sharing information and so avoiding repeat incidents. Please consider adding safetyreports@imca-int.com to your internal distribution list for safety alerts or manually submitting information on incidents you consider may be relevant. All information is anonymised or sanitised, as appropriate.

IMCA’s store terms and conditions (https://www.imca-int.com/legal-notices/terms/) apply to all downloads from IMCA’s website, including this document.

IMCA makes every effort to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data contained in the documents it publishes, but IMCA shall not be liable for any guidance and/or recommendation and/or statement herein contained. The information contained in this document does not fulfil or replace any individual’s or Member's legal, regulatory or other duties or obligations in respect of their operations. Individuals and Members remain solely responsible for the safe, lawful and proper conduct of their operations.