US ship repair firm Marine Hydraulics fined for fatal mishap

Virginia-based ship repair specialist Marine Hydraulics International (MHI) has been fined US$16,550 by the US Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in relation to an accident that resulted in the death of two individuals at the company's Norfolk facilities on October 23, 2024.

On the said date, two employees of MHI subcontractor Par Marine Services were working on the US Navy strategic sealift ship USNS 2nd Lt John P Bobo when an overhead lift fell on them, leaving them critically injured.

One of the two individuals was pronounced deceased at the scene while the other expired while undergoing treatment in hospital.

An investigation report revealed that MHI had violated OSHA standards due to the company's improper operation of cargo lifting rigging and the failure of key support bolts used for ship lifts.

The investigation found that, "the cargo was not secured with safety rigging prior to lifting," and that MHI had, "attached the lifting rigging to pre-installed U-bolts," which, "were unable to support the lift, causing the lift to fall," and hit the two workers.

Par Marine Services was meanwhile fined US$33,100 in relation to the same mishap.

The OSHA said on its website that its investigation into the accident is still ongoing.

MHI had earlier been cited for numerous OSHA violations, resulting in tens of thousands of dollars in fines imposed on the company. In 2021, the company was cited for three violations, one of which resulted in a worker suffering non-life-threatening injuries.