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Wednesday, January 17, 1973
BOILER SAFETY VALVES SHOULD BE HANDLED BY SKILLED STAFF
Warning Issued To Shipowners
The handling of boiler safety valves should be done by
skilled and experienced personnel under the close supervision of
ship officers.
The Director of Marine, Mr. A. Fletcher, today issued
this reminder to shipowners, shipyard managers and others concerned
with such work.
He cited a recent case where the setting of boiler safety
valves after overhaul was left in the hands of relatively unskilled
personnel employed by shore contractors.
officers.
"Their actions were insufficiently supervised by the ship's
"As a result, too high a pressure was developed in the boiler
which failed instantaneously ejecting several tons of boiler water and
steam into the engine room.
"This and the resulting flying debris caused the death of
four persons, injuries to numerous others and considerable material
damage to the ship," Mr. Fletcher said.
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