IMarEST Fellow: raising awareness ‘the greatest reward’
Donal Burke reflects on his Queen Elizabeth Prize for research into fatal oxygen depletion in enclosed spaces aboard vessels.
“The reaction at first was with disbelief that this could happen. It still has a feeling of amazement that it did happen,” says Donal Burke, after receiving the prestigious award earlier in the year.
“To have the research recognised in this manner is another tremendous way of getting the message of the dangers involved being publicised and this is probably the greatest reward.”
Speaking about the research subject matter, Burke explains that the statistics solely recorded for oxygen depletion and/or gas emissions (excluding other accidents) indicate that the majority of deaths (64%) occur in bulk carriers and general cargo vessels.
“Because of their everyday usage, many of the cargoes being transported are not being construed as dangerous,” says Burke. “However, once the hatch cover is closed, the oxygen is immediately being depleted through rusting, or absorbed into the organic cargo that in turn causes gas emissions from organic cargoes.
“The research tank containments observed through transparent polycarbonate covers clearly show that there is nothing to alert a person to the dangers as an oxygen depleted space looks normal.”
A lifetime of service
Burke's interest in the maritime industry began in his youth with the inspiration of liner traffic from Europe to America in the 1950s, when many huge ocean liners frequently visited Cork Harbour. “I studied at a technical college where the marine engineering course was offered and as I had a good interest in engineering, I was drawn to this career.”
After life with Irish Shipping Ltd, and achieving a First Class Combined Certificate of Competency, Burke began teaching marine engineering in Cork. He subsequently became Head of the Nautical Studies Department at the Cork Institute of Technology, and Head of the National Maritime College of Ireland.
"Retiring in 2006, I became a consultant in marine engineering at the Angolan Maritime College in Sumbe, working with the architects, the Glasgow College of Nautical Studies and the sponsors to bring the concept to fruition,” Burke recalls.
Thereafter, Burke worked as Secretary of the Stena Association of Maritime Institutes (STAMI) for several years. Towards the end of this period, a new enclosed space entry course was the catalyst for Burke's upcoming research: “I felt that some type of simple experiment was needed to show how quickly the oxygen level could be depleted.”
With respect to Burke's life-saving research, the eureka moment came in April 2015. “I created a simple experiment to show the effect of oxygen being absorbed by rusting in a simulated scrap metal cargo. The experiment involved a sealed 25 litre keg containment of scrap metal connected to a 2.4m high manometer where the effect of the vacuum created could be observed when the oxygen was absorbed in rusting.
“The experiments show that within six hours at 23°C, the oxygen level can be depleted to fatal levels. Investigations then followed into simulated chain lockers and ballast tanks.”
Further investigations then began into the conditions when organic cargoes are transported, providing data on the speed at which oxygen is depleted and occurrence of emission of carbon dioxide and/or carbon monoxide. Organic cargoes investigated included barley, wheat, wood chip, wood pellets, and eight different log types, with experiments carried out at 12°C and 23°C. “Several of the experiments included connections to a simulated adjacent space vessel and this proved very valuable in showing how these spaces can become extremely dangerous,” Burke explains.
“A formula was developed that linked the emission to the depletion and from this it became evident that when the 4% CO2 suggested fatal level is reached, the oxygen level could be in the 14% to 16% range depending on temperature. The overall research project involved 25,000 hours of investigations in over 260 experiments in eight years.”
IMO get involved and the future
Burke teamed up with the City of Glasgow College in 2017 and since then has been the lead researcher into oxygen depletion in enclosed spaces. The research has resulted in the publication of award-winning papers.
“As a result of joining a Special Interest Group in IMarEST, three papers were submitted and tabled at the September 2023 meeting of the IMO and the main points of the research have been incorporated into Resolution A 1050 (27),” he says.
Looking at the future, Burke says that raising awareness of the dangers is the most important element. “The research findings of the speed of oxygen depletion and emission of gases and their linkage must be made known to those on board. The use of fumigants and their dangers must also be highlighted,” states Burke.
“It is clear from the findings that each type of organic cargo is different to the next, therefore it is inappropriate to generalise or average. The speed at which one organic cargo depletes can be totally different to another organic cargo. Temperature and atmospheric pressure also effect the speed of depletion.”
Burke concludes there are many different ways of preventing deaths in enclosed spaces: “However, if every vessel operates the policy of no entry without testing and proof that the space is safe as well as strict control of the enclosed spaces to prevent unauthorised entry, this should help to eliminate most of the fatalities.
“The method of testing is generally by handheld instruments and each vessel should have a minimum of two methods of testing for the expected prevailing gases within the space.
“Remote sensing and transmission of signals is another way of ascertaining constant monitoring. However, this is probably more appropriate to new builds whereas retrofitting can be expensive.”
Join IMarEST’s Ship Repair, Maintenance, and Safety Special Interest Group, or the Human Element Working Group.
Newsletter image: Chair of the COGC Board Alasdair Barron MBE, Principal Paul Little CBE and Lead Researcher Daniel C Burke (Dónal) with the award; credit: Donal Burke.
Main image: an inspection on a ballast water tank; credit: Shutterstock.
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