Maritime-Safety Articles
Chronicling a day that almost ended in disaster, this is the tale of a crew member working on a superyacht refit. Responsibilities included cleaning and painting the engine room bilges, a task that brought him face to face with a potentially life-threatening situation. Deep inside the six-foot-deep main bilge sump, oblivious to the surrounding crew, he used acetone to degrease the surfaces. Unaware that acetone expands to over 300% its initial volume and is denser than air, the man unwittingly jeopardized his survival as the oxygen around him got rapidly displaced.
Piloting a superyacht can be an invigorating experience. The feel of the salt air, the wind in the sails, and the stunning vistas can create the impression of conquering the seas. However, beneath this adventurous façade lurks the harsh reality of maritime safety. As any seasoned sailor will profess, being on the open water is not without risks, particularly when it comes to boarding a vessel under challenging sea conditions.
Recently, a case study from CHIRP Maritime’s Superyacht Feedback highlighted the risks associated with boarding a superyacht. This knowledge sharing program brought attention to several design flaws that could jeopardize the safety of both maritime pilots and crew members. Prompting this investigation were a series of unsuccessful boarding attempts under adverse weather conditions, along with the vessel’s corresponding non-compliant safety protocols.