Safety issues have been highlighted by authorities after an incident on-board a BP LNG carrier that seriously injured three crew members off Australia.
Investigators were satisfied with the response of BP Shipping and equipment supplier Davit International, but raised concerns about shipping industry training in the use of some equipment.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said the incident on the 155,000-cbm British Sapphire (built 2008) took place when a safety interlock failed to prevent a rescue boat’s wave compensation unit from starting.
As a result, the boat plunged 18 metres to the sea with crew members on-board.
The accident took place in May 2010 when the British Sapphire was travelling from Yung An, Taiwan, to the North West Shelf LNG plant.
The vessel diverted to Darwin when its chief engineer began suffering from chest pains.
Fellow crew members were helping him onto the rescue boat to be transferred to a police vessel when it dropped.
The ATSB investigation found problems with the electrical wiring of the wave compensator, as well as crew training in its use.
The agency also faulted testing of the rescue boat davit and crew training with fast rescue boats.
