This new inclusion affects All vessels – Class 1, 2, 3 and 4
Toxic gas: is your vessel at risk?
Exhaust fumes from vessel engines, generators, appliances and sewerage systems produce gases that are toxic and highly explosive. These gases can build up, leading to poisoning, explosions and fires.
Some of the gas risks that may apply to your vessel.
Vessel operation/Class
Gas Risk
Passenger vessels: ferries, charter operations Class 1
Carbon monoxide is an odourless, tasteless and colourless gas. It is produced when a carbon-based fuel, such as petrol, diesel, propane, charcoal or oil, burns.
Inhaling high concentrations of carbon monoxide can cause death in minutes.
Risks
Engines, generators and fuel-burning appliances: These include:
BBQs, charcoal briquettes/beads and grills
outdoor heaters
gas lanterns
tools with gasoline engines (e.g. pressure washers, saws)
portable generators
boat engine exhausts.
Confined areas: Never operate carbon monoxide-emitting appliances indoors or in small, poorly ventilated spaces.
Symptoms
Some common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include:
nausea
vomiting
headaches
dizziness or weakness
eye irritation
fainting.
Symptoms of high exposure to carbon monoxide include:
loss of consciousness
seizures
permanent brain injury
death.
People with carbon monoxide poisoning can look like they are seasick or drunk. If unsure, call for medical assistance. Failure to identify and treat carbon monoxide poisoning can result in death.
Control measures
Avoid being seated or standing close to engines or exhaust systems, particularly when the vessel is idling.
Make sure passengers do not spend a lot of time on the swimming deck and ladder at the rear of the vessel due to nearby exhaust fumes.
Only use fossil-fuel burning appliances, engines, tools and equipment outdoors. Consider other factors like wind direction. Keep fumes away from open windows and cabin doors.
Dive boats with cylinder charging compressors need to ensure that the compressor air intake is well away from propulsion engine exhausts to reduce the risk of ignition.
Monitor and service equipment regularly to make sure there are no leaks. Check equipment as part of the pre-start routines.
Consider installing gas detection monitors.
Resources
Call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 for advice 24/7
Hydrogen sulphide is a colourless, flammable, corrosive, poisonous gas that smells like rotten eggs. It’s produced naturally from decaying organic matter.
Exposure over a long period desensitises a person to the smell. Higher levels will dull a person’s sense of smell instantly. Breathing in high concentrations of hydrogen sulphide can kill a person.
Risks
Sewerage systems: Hydrogen sulphide can be produced in bilge systems, oily water tanks and fuel tanks but it’s most commonly produced in sewerage systems. This gas will continue to build in sewage tanks until they are emptied.
Fishing vessels: Hydrogen sulphide can also be produced on fishing vessels by rotting fish, fish waste or offal.
Low-lying, enclosed areas: Hydrogen sulphide is heavier than air and can travel along the ground. It collects in low-lying and enclosed areas with poor airflow.
Ignition sources and sparks: Hydrogen sulphide is highly flammable. It can easily ignite and explode and must be kept away from ignition sources or sparks.
Symptoms
Common symptoms of hydrogen sulphide poisoning:
headache
dizziness
staggering
sudden collapse
acute eye, nose and throat irritation
shortness of breath
tightness in chest
wheezing
loss of olfactory senses (loss of smell and taste).
Acute symptoms of hydrogen sulphide poisoning at high concentrations:
convulsions
pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs)
coma
death (in very high concentrations almost instantly).
Control measures
Complete a thorough risk assessment and make sure crew are aware of the safety measures in place.
Pump out sewage tanks after each voyage/charter.
Check that sewage tanks are empty prior to commencing each voyage. Empty them if they contain waste.
Include the monitoring, maintenance, and servicing of sewerage systems in your vessel risk assessment in your SMS.
Make the crew aware of hydrogen sulphide and other hazardous gases on board in the safety induction. Include procedures to manage situations where these gases are detected in the vessel’s emergency plan/procedures.
Let the master know as soon as a rotten egg smell is first detected. Start your emergency procedures and call 000.
Hydrogen sulphide will accumulate on lower sections in vessels because it’s heavier than air. Stay clear of these zones and move to an open area in an emergency.
Watch what’s happening around you and be aware of the possibility of inhaling hazardous substances when dealing with incidents on board. Contact HAZMAT for guidance as needed.
Do not put yourself and your crew in danger when helping others. If someone has collapsed inside from any hazardous gases, go outside.
Resources
Call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 for advice 24/7
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring gas. It’s heavier than air and accumulates on the ground. Like carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide is colourless, tasteless and odourless.
We exhale carbon dioxide, and in low quantities it does not pose a risk to people. However, a few minutes of exposure to high concentrations of carbon dioxide can be fatal, particularly if a person collapses to the floor or is working in low lying areas in a vessel.
Risks
CO2 cylinders: Carbon dioxide contained in CO2 cylinders is commonly used in the hospitality industry to carbonate drinks such as on tap beers, ciders and post-mix soft drinks.
Confined areas: Many passenger vessels use and store CO2 cylinders, usually in small cupboards. If there is a leak, gas emissions can build up and pose a serious risk to people when they open the cupboard or enter the confined area where these cylinders are being stored. Suffocation and possible death can occur within minutes.
Symptoms
Acute carbon dioxide poisoning stops the respiratory and circulatory systems in the body which can cause:
tachycardia (fast heart rate)
cardiac arrythmias
impaired consciousness.
More serious symptoms of high exposure to carbon dioxide are:
convulsions
coma
asphyxiation
death.
Control measures
Include the use, storage and maintenance of CO2 in your risk assessment, emergency plans and crew induction within the vessel’s SMS.
Store CO2 cylinders in open, well-ventilated areas.
Do not store CO2 cylinders in small rooms or cupboards without CO2 monitors.
Check CO2 cylinders for leaks regularly.
Make crew aware of the risks of CO2 exposure in your vessel induction and daily prestart briefings and provide information on what to do in case there is a gas leak.
Consider installing gas monitor devices near the source.
Resources
Call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 for advice 24/7
If you haven’t already, you will need to identify equipment, appliances and systems that create these and other toxic gases and reduce the risks.
This is very serious – both with the safety of your crew, but with AMSA. AMSA have openly advised they are targeting inspections from February to April OF THIS YEAR (see checklist below) ensuring that you are meeting safety standards, managing operation risks and keeping crew and passengers safe. The SMS has been appropriately updated, crew inducted, records complete and equipment safe and maintained.
Shorlink’s Recommendation
Conduct a risk assessment to identify equipment, appliances and systems that create hazardous gases on your vessel. Click Here for a checklist.
Put storage and maintenance procedures in place to eliminate or reduce the risk to your crew and passengers.
Consider installing gas monitoring devices.
Induct and train crew and educate hirers (Class 4) so they are prepared to deal with hazardous gas situations.
Record risks and controls in your SMS.
Tip
Make this a priority!
Whether you own one vessel or a fleet, ensuring Hazardous Gases have been identified, and your SMS, training, procedures, equipment and records are up to date as soon as possible is vital.
If you are unsure, contact our office today on (07) 4242 1412 and we would be happy to discuss further.
Shorlink Pty Ltd acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the Traditional Custodians of land, sea and sky, recognising their deep, enduring connection to these places. We pay our respects to Elders past and present who hold the knowledge, culture and spiritual connections to land, sky and waters and whose guidance continues to shape their sustainable, ethical and responsible care.
