InterManager is calling on seafarers to participate in a global survey aimed at understanding the persistent fatalities in enclosed spaces, despite years of safety campaigns and regulatory changes. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has recently tightened rules, emphasizing the need for enhanced training, hazard identification, and rescue preparedness. Only trained personnel should enter these spaces, and ships must maintain detailed hazard registers.
In 2023, there were 14 reported incidents in enclosed spaces, leading to 34 fatalities—almost double the previous year. Bulk carriers are responsible for about 41% of these incidents, with most deaths occurring in cargo holds. Oxygen depletion, often due to inadequate ventilation or poor risk assessment, remains the leading cause of death.
Since InterManager began tracking statistics in 1998, the rate of enclosed space accidents has not significantly decreased. The survey, conducted with The Nautical Institute and IMarEST, aims to gather firsthand insights from those directly facing these risks. Captain Kuba Szymanski, Secretary General of InterManager, urges frontline workers to contribute their experiences to better understand the ongoing challenges.
Seafarers, shipboard officers, and HSEQ personnel are encouraged to complete the anonymous survey and share it within their networks. Access the survey here.
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