Deadly Cargo Hold Entry: Stevedore Fatality – Ever Felicity

Stevedore Fatality on Bulk Carrier Ever Felicity | Japan TSB Report MA2025-4.

What Happened: On the 20th of May, 2024, the bulk carrier Ever Felicity was loading Palm Kernel Shells (PKS) at Ishinomaki Port, Japan. The vessel had been loading PKS over several days. The cargo had been exposed to rain before being loaded, and the hatch covers for Cargo Hold No. 1 had remained closed for two days prior to the incident.

That morning, two stevedores entered Cargo Hold No. 1 to detach a lifting fixture from heavy machinery. They entered without conducting a pre-entry working environment measurement or testing the atmosphere.

Because the damp PKS had fermented and oxidized inside the closed hold, it consumed the available oxygen and generated toxic levels of carbon dioxide. Upon entering the oxygen-deficient environment, both stevedores rapidly lost consciousness and collapsed onto the cargo. One stevedore tragically died, and the other sustained injuries requiring hospital treatment.

Immediate Operational Checks: Officers must treat all cargo holds as potentially dangerous enclosed spaces, even when hatch covers are partially or recently opened.

Right now, check your vessel’s gas detection equipment is calibrated and ready for use. Review your cargo manifest for organic or biomass materials, such as PKS, wood pellets, or grain, which are prone to fermentation, oxidation, and oxygen depletion. Ensure that no stevedore, contractor, or crew member enters any cargo hold without a confirmed, documented atmosphere test for oxygen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and flammable gases.

Ensure up to date and relevant information is reviewed for each new cargo:

• IMSBC Code: Mandatory international rules for the safe stowage and handling of solid bulk cargoes.
• IMDG Code: Mandatory international rules for classifying, segregating, and handling packaged dangerous goods.
• Thomas’ Stowage: The industry-standard reference book covering physical properties and historical stowage practices for various cargoes.
• BLU Code: Standardized safety procedures and ship-shore checklists specifically for bulk carriers and terminals.
• UN Orange Book: The foundational United Nations guidelines for classifying all dangerous goods and assigning UN numbers.
• Safety Data Sheets (SDS / MSDS): Shipper-provided documents detailing a cargo’s specific chemical hazards, required PPE, and first aid measures.
• Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods: A legally required certificate verifying the exact hazardous nature and proper packaging of a cargo.
• Solid Bulk Cargo Declaration: A mandatory document stating a bulk material’s moisture content and Transportable Moisture Limit (TML).
• Company Safety Management System (SMS): Your vessel’s internal manuals detailing operational limits and company-prohibited cargoes.
• COSHH Regulations: Health and safety guidelines useful for assessing crew exposure limits to dust, fumes, and harmful substances.
• P&I Club Bulletins: Insurance circulars that highlight new, seasonal, or emerging cargo risks based on recent industry incidents.

All operators have a duty of care for shore workers and contractors working aboard their vessels. Do not assume stevedores are competent or experienced in confined space entry.

Lessons Learned:

• Always Test the Atmosphere: Never enter a hold containing organic or biomass cargo without first measuring oxygen and toxic gas levels, regardless of how long the hatch has been open. Natural ventilation is often not enough.
• Understand Cargo Hazards: Biomass fuels like PKS can rapidly deplete oxygen and produce deadly carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, especially when exposed to moisture. Review all available information on your cargo using Thomas Stowage, MSDS, COSHH, etc.
• Enforce Safe Work Procedures: Ensure that all shore-based contractors and stevedores strictly follow safe entry procedures and risk assessments before boarding and entering vessel holds.
• Use Forced Ventilation: Do not rely on natural ventilation alone to clear toxic gases from a cargo hold. Use mechanical blowers to supply fresh air before and during any entry.
• Conduct Pre-Work Briefings: Hold joint safety meetings with the shore team to confirm gas hazards, rescue plans, and communication methods before cargo operations begin.

Tags:

Enclosed Space Entry, Cargo Hold Safety, Biomass Hazards, Gas Detection, Oxygen Deficiency

Official Report:

Japan TSB Report MA2025-4