The incident occurred in April 2023 at a shipyard on the island of Syros, Greece, where the 50,832-dwt vessel Equinox Seas (built in 2003) was undergoing maintenance.
The MAIB report highlighted significant safety management issues aboard the vessel during its stay at the yard. Emmanuel Tayong, 37, fell down a ventilation trunk after a fan had been removed. The report found that inadequate safety measures were in place, such as a tape barrier that failed to prevent access to the hazardous area. Tayong may have been less alert due to the time of the accident.
The investigation pointed to poor coordination between the shipyard and the ship’s crew, as well as a lack of clear safety protocols during the repair period. While the emergency response was timely and effective, the safety management on board the Equinox Seas was deemed inadequate.
The report also noted that relevant safety guidelines, particularly those provided by the P&I Club, were not fully implemented on the vessel, contributing to the accident. The intensity of shipyard operations and the variety of hazards present require heightened attention to safety, which was lacking in this case.