The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has blamed inadequate maintenance for the accidental release of carbon dioxide on two ro-ros.
It said that fortunately no one was hurt in the incidents, but that the unintended release of CO2 from fire-extinguishing systems caused 72 deaths and 145 injuries, mainly in the marine industry, between 1975 and 2000.
The first incident occurred on 8 June 2016, when AW Ship Management's 13,300-gt ro-ro Eddystone (built 2002) experienced a release from its fixed fire-extinguishing system while on passage in the Southern Red Sea.
