Limited escape or recovery routes - Whilst undertaking work connected to an umbilical air/comms line a restriction is placed on the escape or recovery route should the diver require to be rescued.


Risk of exposure to contaminants; (i.e. sulfuric acid) - There is always the possibility of leakage into the flooded compartment of contaminants from adjacent fuel tanks or pipe galleries creating their own risks.


Entrapment - There is always the opportunity that the diver could be entrapped or caught up in a situation where materials within the compartment move and prevents the diver exiting the work area.


Disorientation - Where surface supplied divers are tethered via an umbilical cord which normally consists of an airline, communication system, video feed from a CCTV camera mounted on the diver’s helmet, a safety line component and a pneumo line, disorientation becomes less of a problem as surface personnel know what is happening below. However, if sediment on the floor or sides of the compartment is disturbed the visibility in water becomes zero, in this situation it would not be unreasonable to assume that the diver could become disorientated.


Additional equipment - The weight of commercial diving equipment is substantial, reaching on average 80kg and awkwardness of moving additional equipment in and around the compartment will sap energy from the diver and make any task more difficult to accomplish.


The weight problem made it necessary to develop and modify a few relevant items to reduce the risks and to enable dedicated personal to access submerged compartments safely, effectively and with confidence. Recently the rescue diving harness and recovery helmet support has been developed.


LACK OF RELEVANT RESCUE PROCEDURES FOR OPERATING IN SUBMERGED OR SEMI- SUBMERGED CONDITIONS: In the last four years, I have searched the web and various other sources in UK, Europe, North America and Australia for any traces of an applicable safety procedures


Rescue winches had to be modified to accommodate the addition load of the diving equipment. There are still couple items which have been developed and are being manufactured.


RELEVANT TRAINING AND MODIFIED EQUIPMENT:


for the operations and rescue from submerged spaces and I have been shocked to find out that there are actually non in existence.


PROPOSED ‘BEST WORKING PRACTICE’: • Understand the problem • Seek a solution • Train the solution • Implement the solution


• Enclosed space entry training • Enclosed space hazard awareness


• Familiarization of the Ship’s construction


• Be able to implement incapacitated personnel rescue procedures in dry and wet conditions


The process of creating the applicable enclosed submerged spaces training is already underway. The MRS Training & Rescue is in the process of establishing a Marine training center for confined space entry and rescue including submerged spaces entry.


TO OPERATE SAFELY IN SUBMERGED OR SEMI- SUBMERGED CONDITIONS IIMS and IMCA is currently engaged in forming a working group with the aim of creating a set of procedures for “best working practice” for entry and rescue from submerged spaces on board ships.


CONCLUSIONS Capt Michael Lloyd has published an excellent article entitled “The importance of understanding enclosed space entry” (To be found in issue 79 the March issue of The Report). In the article he summarized equipment, risks and its management.


My aim has been to shed light on overlooked, unrecognized and underestimated issues of wet entry and rescue from submerged compartments on board vessels, submarines, offshore oil rigs, floating cranes and many other mobile and stationary structures. I truly believe that together as members of the maritime community we could make a difference by self-education, promotion of the awareness and implementation of applicable training.


Let’s bridge this gap and by doing so reduce risk and save lives.


The Report • September 2017 • Issue 81 | 51


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