SAFETY ALERT: USE OF AC WELDING MACHINE ONBOARD

Based on maritime welding incidents reports, “Report of investigation into the electrocution of a
fitter during welding repair on board Hong Kong registered vessel Suntec on 23 January 2010”
and “Fatal Injury On Board Mathu Bhum At Gulf Of Martaban On 3 December 2016”, whereby AC
Welding Machine is used for shipboard repair welding with High Open Circuit Voltage (OCV) and
without any Voltage Reduction Device (VRD) and in high risk area:

Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers (COSWP, UK)-amendment 3 October
2018 states that:

 24.6.1 & 24.6.2 For rectifiers and inverters delivering DC: Max 70 V DC & For transformers
delivering AC Max 25 V AC
 24.6.4 Earth return clamp must be connected as closet to welding piece and not hull body

AS 1674.2-2007 Safety in welding and allied processes (Australian Standard) specifies DC only
and a touchable voltage (arc sensing voltage) of max. 35 Volt when using the Voltage Reduction
Device (VRD). And, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore via Shipping Circular No. 5 of 2018
state that “Ship owners, managers and operators of Singapore registered ships are recommended
to fit the Voltage Limiting Device (VLD) or Low Voltage Shock Preventer (LVSP) on the shipboard
AC electric arc welding equipment and the recommendation on the use of the VLD or LVSP is to
be included in the company’s safety management system (SMS)”.

Wilhelmsen Ships Service / UNITOR recommends ship owners, managers and operators to
consider using compliance DC Welding Machine fitted with VRD to reduce risks of
Electrocution to a much lower and safer level for shipboard welding operations as well as following
all the safety practices i.e. connect work piece using earth return clamp, use of fully insulated
electrode holders (CE marked and conforms to standard 2006/95/EEG concerning low-voltage
and comply with rules relating to standard EN60974-11) that do not have exposed conductive
materials to avoid endangering the operator. Reference: https://vimeo.com/451715527.