Enclosed spaces: When saving a life turns fatal
By Siddharth Mahajan, Team Leader, Loss Prevention Asia and Amit Kamo, Senior Loss Prevention Executive, Gard P&I Club
Enclosed spaces on ships - such as cargo tanks, holds, and chain lockers - are among the most dangerous environments onboard. While much attention is paid to the initial victims of asphyxiation or toxic exposure, a significant and tragic share of fatalities are would-be rescuers: crew members who rush in to save a colleague, only to become victims themselves.
Concerningly, the majority of multi-fatality incidents in enclosed spaces involve at least one rescuer who perished after entering without proper precautions.
The numbers speak for themselves
Many fatalities involve would-be rescuers - individuals who entered enclosed spaces to save others and became casualties themselves. According to NIOSH, more than 60% of confined space deaths occur among rescuers. IBTA’s analysis submitted to the IMO shows that between 2000 and 2024, there were 67 such fatalities on ships - 48 were crew members and 19 were shore workers. Senior officers (masters, chief officers, chief engineers) are disproportionately represented among rescuer fatalities; for example, nearly half of the 23 masters who died in enclosed spaces lost their lives in rescue attempts.
Case study
The vessel concluded discharging Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) and initiated extensive tank cleaning over six days in preparation for loading Soyabean and Sunflower oil. All tanks were gas-freed, and multiple crew entries were conducted. On the final cleaning day, the Port Slop tank was successfully de-slopped of Annex I wash water. However, the Starboard Slop tank still contained approximately 70 cubic meters of Annex II wash water mixed with a tank cleaning chemical. Over the next week, the vessel then loaded Soyabean and Sunflower oil cargoes into the tanks, except Slop (P & S). Two days after departure from the load port, the crew began pumping out the contents of the slop starboard tank using the Annex II overboard line. When the tank reached stripping level, the Chief Officer instructed the Bosun to open the tank dome and descend to the first platform to hose down the tank. The Chief Officer and Bosun were at the tank dome, while a deck cadet was stationed at the hydrant to operate the fire hose valve.
THE REPORT | MAR 2026 | ISSUE 115 | 85
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