No safety barriers around an open hatch

摘要

In ballast and after weighing anchor at about 0100 local time, the vessel proceeded to berth. It was the practice to remove the hatch covers before berthing when loading or unloading cargo at this port. This had been done prior to heaving anchor. As the vessel made for the berth the second officer reported to the master that he would stand by at the aft mooring station. Two crew, both on the main deck, saw the second officer pass in front of them and enter the pump room just aft of No. 2 cargo hold. Soon afterward they heard a scream and raised the alarm. After the inside of No. 2 cargo hold was lit, the second officer was found lying and bleeding at the starboard aft end of the hold. He appeared to have fallen over the one metre high hatch coaming to the bottom of the empty hold, 8.5m below.