200369 Oil Drum Stowage
Oil Drum Stowage
MARS Report 200369
We received hydraulic oil in drums and transferred some quantity to the storage tank. Two drums remained full and we lashed them on deck. We expected to find a suitable place to stow them away during the following weeks. However, the captain insisted to put them inside - in the entrance of the engine room.
In this area we already had some drums and fitter's materials and there was no place for more but the captain did not accept any explanations. So we lashed these two drums just inside the entrance. To make the passage less restricted we put them in such a way that they could be moved to make passing them easier.
The next night the vessel suffered heavy rolling, the drums broke loose, became punctured by a ladder step and the oil poured out on the deck. We were lucky that this compartment had a drain (made on purpose) to the main deck. Otherwise the oil would have poured on the main engine exhaust pipe and the auxiliary boiler.
Lessons to learn:
- Keep the Engine Room entrance free.
- Store the lubricating oil in the tanks only or transfer to drums situated in the lower platform in engine room or in the forecastle.