Marine Investigators Warn of Toxic Gas Risks After Incident on Australian Vessel
Marine investigators in New Zealand have issued a warning about the dangers of toxic gas exposure on fishing vessels following a near-fatal incident on the Australian-registered vessel, Antarctic Discovery. The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) released a report detailing how a routine maintenance task turned into a life-threatening situation when four workers were exposed to hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a toxic gas produced by decaying fish. The incident occurred in February last year when the vessel was undergoing maintenance in New Zealand. The gas exposure happened after a temporary fix to a blocked discharge valve led to the accidental activation of an offal pump, releasing the gas. All affected workers were hospitalized but recovered. The Antarctic Discovery, a longline fishing vessel, was returning from a Southern Ocean voyage when the incident occurred. 
