The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has found major flaws in safety procedures after a crew member was seriously injured aboard the bulk carrier Golden Zhejiang. The injury occurred when the ship’s free-fall lifeboat was accidentally released during a routine safety inspection in British Columbia.
This incident took place on September 2, 2023, while the Golden Zhejiang was anchored in Trincomali Channel. The second and fourth engineers were performing their weekly safety check on the free-fall lifeboat when the second engineer faced a steering issue. He decided to troubleshoot the problem from inside the lifeboat, and while doing so, he accidentally activated the main release mechanism. This caused the lifeboat to drop into the water with the engineer still inside.
The engineer was not strapped into a seat at that moment and suffered serious injuries when the lifeboat hit the water after falling from about 19 meters high.
The TSB investigation uncovered several contributing factors to the incident. The report stated that the safety management system of the Golden Zhejiang did not require a risk assessment before entering the free-fall lifeboat for a safety check. As a result, both engineers proceeded with the safety check without considering the risk of the boat being released unexpectedly.
Moreover, investigators discovered that the cables holding the lifeboat to its launching structure were not designed or certified to bear weight, which made them unsafe. When the lifeboat was released, these cables failed, allowing it to fall freely into the water.
The investigation highlighted broader systemic issues as well. The TSB mentioned that crew members usually gain equipment-specific knowledge through training, drills, and technical materials. Without this knowledge, they might unintentionally activate important safety controls.
The report stressed the importance of having a strong safety culture, which includes reliable communication between the crew and shore-based management, as this is crucial for improving safety management systems. The TSB warned that without such communication, these systems might only meet minimal regulatory compliance.
After the incident, the vessel operator, Columbia Shipmanagement Ltd., made significant safety improvements across its fleet. The company issued safety alerts, enhanced labeling on release controls, updated familiarization checklists, and added securing turnbuckles for safety checks and maintenance.
Columbia Shipmanagement also expanded its training programs, using this incident as a teaching case in crew seminars and increasing the number of visits by shore management personnel to focus on free-fall lifeboat safety and crew awareness.
The company launched a safety campaign promoting Stop Work Authority, empowering any crew member to stop work if there are health, safety, or environmental concerns.
The TSB investigation also pointed out a major gap in international maritime safety standards, noting that there are currently no international guidelines or regulations specifically for safely securing free-fall lifeboats during maintenance and service.
For more details, the full investigation report can be viewed on the TSB's website.