On 14.12.2021 in the ballast tank No. 3 port side of m/v "BELLONA", during repair works at ship repair yard “MTG Delfin” JSC a fire broke out. The fire was extinguished, but the worker of the company "Galera 07" LTD, who was in the tank, died.
The Commission of investigation considered that the main reason that led to the very serious accident was a mechanical failure (rupture) of the methane hose of the gas-oxygen cutter located in the tank, which resulted in the leakage of a large amount of gas and its subsequent ignition by an unknown source of ignition (most likely defective cable with lighting fixtures, a string of light bulbs/lamps or so called "garland" type).
Contributing factors to the fire were non-observance of fire safety measures by those working in the ballast tank, lack of appropriate protective clothing, lack of forced ventilation to remove the released gas, lack of an automatic gas analyser, as well as the lack of control by the persons in charge of "Gallera 07" LTD, charged with compliance with safety measures.
The Commission issued 7 safety recommendations to the management of the company "Galera 07" LTD.