CRANKCASE EXPLOSION AND INSURANCE CLAIMS

In spite of taking all safety measures and following all correct procedures, sometimes unfortunate incidents do occur on board a ship. These result in personal injuries and machinery damage. After every incidence, investigations take place and insurance claims are raised.  The insurance underwriters appoint damage surveyors who come on board and do their investigation. In the process of doing it, they ask for all the relevant documents.
Suppose a main engine crankcase explosion has taken place on your ship in which main engine was badly damaged and two engine room personnel suffered serious injuries. Now, you will have to present your vessel for subsequent inspections by P&I and H&M insurance companies.
We will see step by step what all should be done after the incidence:-
1) Take care of persons injured:- Since persons are seriously injured, give them first aid and ask for medical advice from a rescue centre. Give the information to owner and charterer and seek their advice. If the vessel needs to divert and make a emergency port of call take permission from owner and charterer. But since main engine is also badly damaged the vessel will need emergency towing. Give notice to agent and P&I correspondent at the nearest port. They will arrange for the salvage assistance. Enter in the port. Injured personnel to be transported to hospital and later on they can be repatriated. All the medical treatment given to the personnel should be chronologically documented in the medical book.
2) Reporting of incidence to:- The incident should be reported to following without delay
a) Administration
b) Owner
c) Class
d) P&I correspondent
e) H&M broker
f) MAS centre
3) Record keeping:-  Time, date, place and cause of injury should be recorded. The evidence should be preserved and a witness statement should be taken. Write down all important medical condition and drugs that were given to the person. The persons injured were wearing PPEs or not. Take the statement of injured personnel as soon as possible if they are in position of giving one. The most important report in case of personnel injuries is Master’s report. It is an important evidence to judge whether the injury is work related or not. Photos of sites and other evidence should be preserved.
4) Necessary documents and records required to honor only genuine claims
In case of P&I surveyor following documents should be kept ready:-
a) Master statement of fact
b) Witness report
c) Injured person statement
d) Communication with the owners, managers, medical advisors and authorities
e) Deviation report
f) Photos of place of evidence
g) Medical report book relating to important medical condition and all the drugs thet were given to personnel
h) Evidence showing personnel wearing PPEs
i) Injured personnel familiarization with machinery form duly signed by him.
j) Safety instructions explained.
       In case of H&M surveyor following documents should be kept ready:-
a) Chief engineer log book and official log book entry.
b) Master’s and chief engineer’s statement
c) Witness statement
d) Engine room crew statements
e) Main engine PMS records
f) Main engine bearings last renewal and evidence showing that only genuine bearings were used.
g) Main engine crankcase lubricating oil report
h) Engine parameters at the time of incidence ( from log book or data logger)
i) Records showing last alarms and trips tried out ( from alarm logger)
j) Compliance with manufacturer or service letter received recently
All the above documents will be required by the surveyor appointed by H&M underwriter. After the survey a damage survey report will be made. Now the main engine will be repaired. And after that claims will be settled. Depending upon the nature of insurance and the clauses inducted repairs can either be carried out by owner and later the claims can be settled or repair tender can be floated by H&M underwriter only and they can carry out the repairs.