Many lives have been lost unnecessarily when seafarers or shore-based personnel enter enclosed spaces on board ships.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency, an executive agency of the United Kingdom working to prevent the loss of lives at sea has recently published “The merchant shipping and fishing vessels (entry into enclosed spaces) regulations 2022” which will come into force on the 14th May 2022 for ships to which the safety of life at sea (SOLAS) convention 1974 applies, and for other ships, including fishing vessels, on the 14 May 2023 and revoke the merchant shipping (entry into dangerous spaces) regulations 1988.

The 2022 regulations place duties on ship owners, masters, employers of seafarers and others to take measures to protect seafarers among others, from the hazards of entering and or working in enclosed spaces. The regulations incorporates guidance published in international maritime organization (IMO) resolution A/1050(27) entering enclosed spaces on board ships.

Full Details: The merchant shipping and fishing vessels (entry into enclosed spaces) regulations 2022 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The Club have issued a range of advice on enclosed spaces, which can be found below.

• Crew Incidents in Enclosed Spaces | UK P&I Club (ukpandi.com)
• Enclosed Space Entry – The International Group of P&I Clubs (igpandi.org)
• Lessons Learnt: Enclosed Space Fatality (ukpandi.com)
• Lessons Learnt: Enclosed space casualty refrigeration machinery (ukpandi.com)