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SIMS LAUNCHING THE PIONEER BATCH OF ENGINE CADETS FROM NOVEMBER, 2005

Receives approval from the DGHS for its one year diploma course

Samundra Institute of Maritime Studies will launch its pioneer batch of engine cadets from November, 2005. An all India basis selection has been conducted comprising both written tests and interview to select the brightest graduate engineers to enter the ESM fleet.

Meanwhile, the first batch of the deck cadets has settled in comfortably in the new hostel in the Lonavala campus. The deck cadet course, as mentioned earlier, is affiliated to IGNOU and they will receive a degree in B.Sc Nautical Sciences at the successful completion of that period.

The campus is fast turning into a full grown, ultra modern maritime training facility far above the standard presently available in India.

EXPLOSION WHILE SPRAY PAINTING IN ENCLOSED SPACES
An explosion occurred during spray painting with an airless spray gun in the upper ballast tank of a bulk carrier. 8 crew members died.

Cause of the explosion was ignition of flammable mixture of air and paint fumes though forced ventilation WAS in progress.
Contributing factors were:    
  		• Possible sources of the ignition:
    i.
    		Electrical spark from the ventilation fan, the portable lighting or the walkie talkie being used, none of which were intrinsically safe.
    ii.
    		Impact spark from a metal object striking the steel structure in the tank.
       
  •      		 The ventilation fan was not fitted with trunking and was rigged to blow in rather than exhaust.
    The volume of thinners used in the mixing of the epoxy paint was far in excess of the specified 5%.
    LESSONS LEARNT
    Spraying emits a greater amount of paint fumes than other forms of painting.
    The use of thinners in spray painting increases the risk of explosion as paint and solvent mixture is broken into a fine mist during the application and evaporates rapidly in air.
    Since the flammable range of hydrocarbon gases is between 1% and 10% by volume, a small amount of solvent vapour is sufficient to turn the atmosphere inside an enclosed space into a flammable or explosive mixture. Hence the practice of thinning the paint with large proportion of thinner is to be avoided.
    Flammable vapour maybe heavier than air and accumulate near the bottom of the space. Tank framing etc may cause short circuiting of fresh air if the ventilatiors are not positioned and directed correctly.
    Initial and periodic checking by combustible gas detectors (explosimeter) may not be sufficient. Atmosphere must be continuously monitored by means of explosimetrers in all parts of the enclosed space.
    		 
    Page - 2 Volume 5 , Issue 10 Dt - 01-10-2005 | ENB History | Home | << Page 1 | Page 3 >>