PSV Tank Equipment Drops – MSF: 26-05

Hidden Hazard: Securing Fixed Tank Washing Machines: Marine Safety Forum Alert – MSF: 26-05 – “Fixed Tank Washing Potential Dropped Object”

What Happened: On a Platform Supply Vessel (PSV) equipped with fixed tank washing machines, a tank cleaning team discovered a serious safety hazard. The team found a 10 kg ‘washing machine’ lying on the tank bottom. The heavy unit had fallen from its fixed position because its connection to the supply pipe had broken. This had the potential to cause serious injury or death if a person had been standing below.

During the investigation, it was discovered that the machines were mounted using only threads and were not secured or considered as Potential Dropped Objects. Although there was a job in the Planned Maintenance System (PMS) for periodic inspection and overhauling, the crew had not carried these inspections out properly because the machines were difficult to access.

Immediate Operational Checks: Officers, you must take action on your ships today to prevent this. First, review your PMS to ensure your tank washing machines are actually being inspected. If access is difficult, do not skip the task; find a safe way to complete the inspection. Treat these machines as Potential Dropped Objects immediately. Have your crew physically check that these units are secure and not relying solely on a threaded connection that could fail over time.

Take this opportunity to assess your entire vessel for the potential for dropped objects. Ensure secondary securing clips or wires are present on items attached to the mast, the monkey island, and anything attached to exterior stairways or bulkheads. Also check all machinery spaces that have heights open to mezzanine decks, or multiple decks above.

Remember, secondary securing wires are sometimes called ‘Jesus-Wires’ for a reason! They may just give you a second chance at life.

Lessons Learned:

• Include all tank washing machines, blades or agitators – as well as their connectors and anchor points – are included in the vessel’s Potential Dropped Objects register.
• Secure every washing machine with a secondary retention device, such as a safety wire, chain, or lanyard, attached to a fixed strong point on the tank structure.
• Review and amend the assigned periodic job descriptions within your PMS to ensure they are practical and accurate.
• Require a close inspection of these machines at least every 12 months, and conduct overhauls according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Lamps, CCTV cameras, LSA, frames, electrical items, ducting, trays, etc, all need to have secondary securing in place. Anything held by screws or bolts may work loose over time due to vibration and / or corrosion.
• Ensure checks are actually performed, and not just signed off.
• Schedule a tank rescue drill using your stretchers and recovery tripod. A dropped object inside a tank could easily break your shoulder, and render crew unable to climb out by their own efforts. All first aiders should have experience in rescuing a person from a tank.

The combination of dangerous enclosed space entry, work at height and potential dropped objects together is a serious risk multiplier. Be aware of these often neglected hazards. Add them to your annual risk assessment reviews.

Tags:

Dropped Objects, Tank Cleaning, Planned Maintenance, Platform Supply Vessel, Maritime Safety

Official Report:

https://www.marinesafetyforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/msf-safety-alert-26.05.pdf