Boaters died from Carbon Monoxide poisoning

THE report on the death of two boating friends in York found the cause was Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning.

The two inland boaters died in a craft having equipment DIY installed with improvised, unsuitable exhaust systems and no working carbon monoxide (CO) alarms, according the to the Marine Accident investigation Branch report published last Thursday.

Two other such deaths

This occurred on the Ouse in the city on the night of 4th December 2019, and follows two other such deaths when a mother and daughter died on a cruiser on Lake Windemere.

The Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) is asking boaters to learn the lessons when, for the second time in six years, two inland boaters have died in a craft having equipment DIY installed with improvised, unsuitable exhaust systems and no working carbon monoxide (CO) alarms, according the to the Marine Accident investigation Branch report.

CO alarm removed

The report shows that lethal amounts of toxic CO were being pumped into the cabin as the leak in the exhaust was only a few millimetres away from the circulatory warm air intake on the heater and all this was happening without warning, as a CO alarm had been removed.

The BSS urges boater owners to look after themselves and their fellow crew members by ensuring that any appliances and systems used on the boat are installed safely by competent fitters, then run according to the instructions and kept in good condition with routine professional maintenance.

BSS Manager, Kevin Tyson, made this reminder:

Last line of defence

"The last line of defence against either CO from equipment on your boat or CO caused by sources beyond your boat is a suitable working CO alarm which is compulsory for boats with cabins on most inland waterways."

The BSS Requirements state that boats with accommodation spaces i.e. areas within a boat surrounded by a permanent boat structure, must have a CO alarm certified by an accredited third-party certification body to at least BS EN 50291 standard although the marine specific BS EN 50291-2 alarm standard remains the recommendation for any new purchases.

You can read more about what you need to do to protect yourself and your crew from the risk of being poisoned by CO on the BSS website at www.boatsafetyscheme.org/CO and we recommend taking the self-assessment challenge to test how carbon monoxide safe you are.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) Fact File

CO is a silent killer and staying alive can mean recognising any early signs of poisoning and knowing what to do if CO poisoning is suspected.

Any carbon-fuel burning appliance or engine can cause CO—carbon fuels include diesel, petrol, gas, coal, wood and charcoal.

It cannot be seen, smelt, tasted, or felt and in high concentrations, CO can kill without warning, sometimes in only minutes.

Breathing-in lower levels of CO over a longer period, can have serious effects such as memory problems and difficulty concentrating.

The early symptoms of CO poisoning can be masked or mistaken for colds, flu or COVID-19. Victims might suffer headaches, suffer mood changes; feel sick and dizzy; or be tired and confused, some may have stomach pains and start vomiting.

Drinking alcohol can also mask the effects and victims may not be aware of the danger creeping up on them, unless they have a warning from a CO alarm.

More serious effects can quickly develop such as loss of balance, difficulty breathing or controlling limbs and eventually unconsciousness.