ERRV Viking Islay - Marine Accident Investigation Branch

1.5Investigations at ImminghamOnce the atmosphere samples had been taken, the foc’sle store was force ventilated(using portable fans obtained from ashore) and then certified by the attending analystas safe for entry.On entering the foc’sle store an empty EEBD was found, and a notice was seen postedup on the after bulkhead of the compartment, near to the manholes (Figure 6). Thenotice appeared to have been made onboard during the period 2002 – 2005. Theship’s crew did not know when the notice had been posted.Figure 6Sign attached to aft bulkhead of foc’sle storeA reminder of the correct size of spanner needed to open the manhole covers wasseen, handwritten in marker pen, near the openings (Figure 7).Being aware of the most probable cause of the accident, both chain locker manholecovers were removed, the foam broken out of both spurling pipes and the space wasforce ventilated. The analyst re-tested the space and certified it safe to enter; themanhole openings were noted to be particularly small (Figure 8).The inside of the chain locker was inspected, measured and photographed. Themain part of the chain was found piled in the middle of the space in a fairly solid lump,probably indicating that it had not moved for an extended period of time. No significantforeign objects were found, other than small amounts of textile material, probably ragsused to plug the spurling pipes prior to applying expanded foam. Some salt water waspresent in the bilges at the bottom of the chain locker, below the false floor (Figure 9).13