Crew member electrocution prompts Coast Guard alert

The Coast Guard has issued a safety warning to shipping companies following the electrocution of a chemical tanker crewman.

Christopher Erickson, 24, of Holden Massachusetts, was killed while conducting tests in the electrical workshop aboard the S/R Wilmington in the Gulf of Mexico. Erickson, a third engineer, was electrocuted while testing a circuit breaker of the 636-foot chemical tanker owned and operated by Sea River Maritime, Inc.

In a Marine Safety Alert issued by the Coast Guard Office of Investigations and Analysis, recommendations are given to prevent electrical shock. According to the alert, Erickson “apparently made contact with unprotected stripped ends of a conductor plugged into a live 480-volt power supply.”

The alert advises management to train crews to take utmost care to avoid risks during electrical procedures.  Other recommendations include advising engineers to wear personal protective non-conductive gear and making sure electrical circuits are de-energized during maintenance procedures.

The company has issued precautionary instructions to the crew.

The specific details of the incident remain under investigation, according to the Coast Guard and Sea River, Inc.

Source: Professional Mariner Magazine