USCG urges for vigilance of CO poisoning risk

Recently, along the Gulf Coast, multiple passengers on board an uninspected passenger vessel (UPV) were hospitalized due to carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. In view of this, the US Coast Guard issued a safety alert to warn operators of this ‘unseen and deadly hazard’ that cannot be easily spotted.

One of the persons onboard the UPV had a 26% CO level in their blood stream. Additionally, it was discovered that one of the passengers became unconscious and the other four passengers experienced heavy fatigue and vomiting as a result of the CO exposure.

Coast Guard Marine Inspectors conducted an exam of the vessel and found it to be in compliance with the ventilation requirements set forth in 46 CFR Subchapter C as they pertain to UPVs. The Coast Guard team then requested that the master get underway in order to take readings with a personal four gas meter. While underway, the meter indicated significantly high parts per million CO in the vessel’s fishing area, the flying bridge, and interior cabin spaces. The team directed the master to cease all operations until the causal factors behind the hazardous condition could be addressed and corrected.

As depicted, the sport fishing vessel had a platform mounted near the water level on the transom which supported a large fish container. There was a small space between the platform and the vertical surface of the transom. When the vessel was underway, carbon monoxide from the exhaust would get trapped under the platform because its outer edges were submerged in water. As a result, the exhaust vented vertically up through the gap instead of venting away from the vessel’s stern like a traditional exhaust would.

Due to the draft and eddies created by the vessel when underway, the exhaust circulated up over the stern and spread throughout the fishing area, flying bridge, and cabin. Swim decks and other obstacles mounted to the stern can alter exhaust flow, putting passengers and crew at significant risk. Additionally, since the symptoms of sea sickness are similar to other types of illnesses, they could be misdiagnosed as something far more innocuous than carbon monoxide poisoning.

The US Coast Guard strongly recommends that operators with similarly outfitted vessels:

    Determine if this type of risk is present on their vessels;

    Always monitor the general health of passengers and crew;

    Consider the use of Carbon Monoxide alarms in cabin areas; and

    Never assume that “it’s just sea sickness,” when the circumstance could be far more dangerous.