16 AUGUST 2017 MATERIALS PERFORMANCE NACE INTERNATIONAL: VOL. 56, NO. 8
MATERIAL MATTERS
In addition to the nitrogen cylinder that exploded, significant corrosion could also be found around
the top of another cylinder in the same bank. Image courtesy of TAIC.
An independent expert metallurgist found
significant corrosion at the point of failure on
the nitrogen cylinder that exploded. Image
courtesy of TAIC.
corroded nitrogen cylinders or other pres-
sure vessels when conducting surveys,
particularly when inspecting vessels
stored in an open marine environment.
Within days, Maritime New Zealand
issued a special safety bulletin
2
to raise
awareness on the issue, provide safe prac-
tice tips to reduce the associated risks,
and to alert people to the risk of safety
associated with nitrogen cylinders.
The TAIC is allowed to make recom-
mendations, but it cannot unilaterally
pursue regulatory actions based on its
f indings. To that end, Maritime New Zea-
land is conducting its own investigation
into the regulatory aspect of the incident.
Both the TAIC and Maritime New
Zealand investigations into the Emerald
Princess accident remain ongoing, with
no dates yet specif ied for the issuance of
f inal conclusions.
Source: TAIC, taic.org.nz.
References
1 "Burst Nitrogen Cylinder Causing Fatality on
Board the Passenger Cruise Ship Emerald
Princess," Transport Accident Investigation
Commission, Interim Report MO-2017-203,
April 2017.
2 "Nitrogen Cylinders," Maritime New Zealand
Safety Bulletin, Issue 34, April 2017.
—Ben DuBose
Continued f rom page 15