Exploding television recovered from sea

  • Safety Flash
  • Published on 17 December 2019
  • Generated on 19 May 2026
  • IMCA SF 30/19
  • 1 minute read

One morning the crew of a workboat noticed an old television set floating in the sea near their work area.

What happened?

The crew decided to take the set on-board in order to prevent it from potentially causing damage to a passing yacht or fishing boat.

Just before the crew members were going to land the television set, it exploded violently, destroying its case and sending shards of glass all over the aft deck. The crew members were fortunate indeed; had their timing been different, the TV set could have exploded in their hands on deck.

Fortunately, in this incident, both crew members were still in the wheelhouse and fully protected. The television set was covered in weeds and shells, indicating that it had been in the water for some time.

The television set exploded violently, destroying its case and sending shards of glass all over the aft deck.
The crew were fortunate indeed; had their timing been different, the TV set could have exploded in their hands on deck.

What actions were taken?

Ensure that you are wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and treat objects recovered from the sea with extreme caution.

Latest Safety Flashes:

Worker suffered crush injury while handling unstable steel plates

Steel plates suddenly toppled over to the side trapping a worker's left hand and wrist between a frame and an emergency stop pedestal.

Read more
High Potential Near Miss: Dropped object due to contact with crane sheave

A Dynamic Positioning (DP) beacon came into contact with sheave protection bars, resulting in the beacon and its holder assembly detaching and falling to the deck below.

Read more
Machinery damaged through improper maintenance technique

During an audit on an offshore vessel it was observed that the fuel oil purifier failed to self-discharge.

Read more
Shifting cargo and deck spill during heavy weather

A sodium chloride brine storage tank shifted approximately 0.5m during heavy weather conditions.

Read more
MSF: Fast Rescue craft (FRC) washed overboard and lost at sea

The Marine Safety Forum (MSF) has published Safety Alert 26-03 relating to the loss of a Fast Rescue Craft (FRC).

Read more

IMCA Safety Flashes summarise key safety matters and incidents, allowing lessons to be more easily learnt for the benefit of the entire offshore industry.

The effectiveness of the IMCA Safety Flash system depends on the industry sharing information and so avoiding repeat incidents. Incidents are classified according to IOGP's Life Saving Rules.

All information is anonymised or sanitised, as appropriate, and warnings for graphic content included where possible.

IMCA makes every effort to ensure both the accuracy and reliability of the information shared, but is not be liable for any guidance and/or recommendation and/or statement herein contained.

The information contained in this document does not fulfil or replace any individual's or Member's legal, regulatory or other duties or obligations in respect of their operations. Individuals and Members remain solely responsible for the safe, lawful and proper conduct of their operations.

Share your safety incidents with IMCA online. Sign-up to receive Safety Flashes straight to your email.