[15/05/2000] Towards a Safety Culture
The Erika accident is still not technically investigated in full. However, DNV believes it is fair to assume that the main contributors to the accident were high corrosion rates due to the combination of un-coated ballast tanks next to tanks with heated cargo, inadequate tank surveys over a number of years, and consequently no steel renewals when needed. Actions taken by the master to remedy the situation may in fact have had the opposite effect, but the handling of the situation by the crew cannot be said to be the initiating factor. Audits under way by IACS, Malta, France, Italy and the EU will hopefully confirm this picture. más |