Søkelys på vanntette skott:Kan være en sikkerhetsrisikoVanntette skott har vært enessensiell del av skipsdesignsiden Titanic ble bygget.Når det i disse dager blirmarkert at det er 100 årsiden Titanic forliste, vetvi at skottene i seg selv erav liten verdi om de ikkevirkelig er vanntette.Jon Stian LøkenManager SpareParts. IMSTitanic var designet til åtakle enhver tenkeligulykke, og det ble ganskehovmodig sagt at detteskipet kunne selv Gudikke senke. Det er en vissrisiko for at en lignendeholdning kan utvikle segpå dagens skip, som jo erutstyrt med meget avanserte sikkerhetssystemer.Vanntette dører er en vesentlig del avsikkerhetssystemet om bord på etmoderne skip. Men det er ikke nok å havanntette dører installert – de må fungereogså. Dessverre blir dørene, som potensieltkan redde både mannskap og skip,noen ganger ignorert. Dermed blir de tilen sikkerhetsrisiko.Hvor godt vedlikeholder du dittsikkerhetssystem?VEKKER: Costa Concordias forlis i vinter har vært en vekker, som har gitt ny oppmerksomhet på sikkerhetom bord, inkludert de vanntette dørene. FOTO : NT B Scan pixEN VEKKERCosta Concordias forlis i vinter har værten vekker, som har gitt ny oppmerksomhetpå sikkerhet om bord, inkludertvanntette dører. Kunnskapen fra ulykkenvil antagelig kunne vise om dørenehar spilt en rolle i kantringen. Uansetter det et syn som ingen ønsker å seigjen, og forhåpentligvis vil vi slippedet.En flyterigg under bygging opplevdei fjor at en uferdig og utett pontong blenedsenket ved en teknisk feil. Inndelingeni flere skott med fungerende mekanisklåste vanntette dører som isolerte vanninntrengningen,gjorde at skaden blesvært begrenset.RISIKOKun større ulykker hvor skip blir skaddeller forliser kommer i offentlighetenssøkelys. Samtidig skjer også mindre, men24 | Nav igar e 2 - 2012
Watertight compartments:A possible Safety HazardEver since designing the Titanic, dividing vessels in watertight compartmentshas been an essential idea for a safe voyage. With the recent centennialcommemoration of the Titanic disaster in mind, simply having watertightcompartments is in itself of little use when water-integrity is not maintained.WAKE UP CALL: The Costa Concordiaaccident this winter has been an eye-opener,which has provided new attention to safety onboard, including the watertight doors.likevel alvorlige, ulykker hvor mannskaper involvert. I et rapportert tilfelleforsøkte en av mannskapet å stoppe endør i å lukke seg, med foten. Resultatetvar en avrevet fot. I andre ulykker harutfallet vært enda verre.Enhver alvorlig skade eller dødsfall>>>Regarding the Titanic, the rather presumptuousclaim was made that not evenGod himself could sink the ship, due tothe impressive safety measures installed.There is a risk that modern vessel operators,equipped with highly sophisticatedsafety systems on board, could developthe same attitude.Watertight compartments are a criticalpart of the safety system and must notsimply be present but working, and preferablyworking well. Unfortunately, thispotentially lifesaving equipment is sometimesignored and turned into a safetyhazard. How well do you look after yoursafety system?A wake up callThe recent Costa Concordia incidenthas been a devastating eye-opener propellingnew attention to the safety system,including the water tight doors onboard. In due course the reports fromthe incident will indicate what role thewatertight doors will have played in thecapsizing. Nevertheless, it is a sightthat no one would wish to see again andhopefully we will not have to.A semisubmersible rig under buildingsuffered from a technical fault last summer,leaving one unfinished, open pontoonsubmerged. The damage was verylimited, as the compartments were isolatedwith the watertight doors shut andlocked.RiskWhilst only the incidents involving lossof or damage to vessels make the headlines,there are occasional accidents withthe watertight doors, involving shipcrew. There has been one recorded incidentwhere a member of crew attemptedto stop a door closing with his foot, resultingin a severed limb. Other crew hasbeen even less fortunate.Any accidents involving injury ordeath are tragic occurrences that requireclose attention. How are watertightdoors operated, and what habits can beobserved among crew members? Are allfunctions and original setup maintained?How can the doors be made safer withoutcompromising on water integrity?Answers to most of these questions are tobe found in the maintenance and use ofthese safety doors.Shall be kept closedFor the engineers on board vessels withwater tight doors, keeping the maintenanceroutine is a natural part of theduties. Keeping a critical eye on the doorsystem as a crucial part of the ship safetysystem, may be an altogether differentthing.Close observation of the relevant SO-LAS paragraphs dictates that the doorsshould be used and closed whenever navigating.Leaving doors open whilst at seais a practice that leaves the vessel at riskin many different ways. Lack of use couldlead to potential insurance void, not tomention the risk for the vessel if an accidentstrikes. However, more often it maylead to hazardous situations due to lackof maintenance.Keep rigid proceduresPressurized doors left unused tend todrift or glide and are thus hazardousfor crew members and passengers passing.Gaskets also need use and lubricationin order to maintain flexibility and toseal properly. A flawed gasket changes awatertight door into being simply a door.Wear and tear affects a number ofmechanical parts such as wheels, rails andsprings. Failure of a spring will cause a potentiallethal reaction as the door may shutdirectly. Another risk is that closing time becomestoo short, closing the door in less thantwenty seconds, which also poses a risk to ourmost valuable assets, the people on board.Keeping rigid operation procedures andprioritising maintenance could mean thedifference between an accident and the lossof your vessel.Nav igar e 21 - 2012 | 25