This Safety Alert addresses the importance of verifying atmospheric conditions in fish holds on commercial fishing vessels. There are specific hazards associated with the use of brine dip solutions, a common substance used in the industry. Brine dip combined with standing water can produce dangerous levels of hydrogen sulfide (H2S). The U.S. Coast Guard is currently investigating a marine casualty where dangerous levels of H2 S were present on a commercial fishing vessel, resulting in the hospitalization of crewmembers on board.
Four crewmembers onboard a commercial fishing vessel noticed an unusual odor coming from the fish hold while conducting shrimping operations. While under the assumption that the odor was due to a leaking refrigerant line, the crew hauled in their nets and began transiting back to port to have their system inspected by a service technician. As they were
packing the last haul of catch into bags, one of the crewmembers went down into the fish hold to retrieve more bags. The crewmember subsequently fell back into the hold while trying to exit the space. A second crewmember failed to recognize the potential hazard and rushed into the space to assist; however, he was immediately overcome by the gas and also fell into the hold. The two remaining crewmembers removed the fish hold hatch cover and attempted to rescue the two fallen crewmembers from the main deck. The Coast Guard and the local fire department’s certified confined space entry team, successfully rescued the unconscious crewmembers and transported them to local hospitals, where they remained in intensive care for several days.
