(www.MaritimeCyprus.com) On 28 October 2025, the Singapore registered bulk carrier, Seacon Oslo (OSLO) was transiting the Mozambique Channel enroute to Port of Durban, South Africa, for the loading of chromite ore. The Chief Officer (CO) was discovered lying on the tank top inside No.1 cargo hold at about 1155H. Medical first aid was immediately rendered upon discovery of the CO; however, he could not be resuscitated.
The Transport Safety Investigation Bureau classified the occurrence as a very serious marine casualty.
The investigation revealed that the CO, the designated Safety Officer, had entered No. 1 cargo hold alone, likely to inspect the cargo space without informing any crew member and fell through an unguarded opening in the inspection walkway onto the tank top. The unguarded opening in the inspection walkway was the result of a metal grating being left open by ship crew without providing any safety barriers.
The investigation also found that the Company’s safety management procedures were not systematically implemented onboard OSLO. The inspection carried out by the CO on the walkway within the cargo hold was regarded as working aloft, but the required Checklist for Aloft Work and Permit to Work were neither prepared by the CO nor approved by the Master. In addition, the Cargo Hold Preparation Operating Checklist for the CO’s entry into No. 1 cargo hold was not completed or approved by the Master.
Find out more details, by reading the full investigation report below:
Source: Singapore Transport Safety Investigation Bureau
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