19-6-2024 (SINGAPORE) A somber cloud hung over Singapore’s maritime industry on June 18th as a devastating incident unfolded, claiming the life of a 22-year-old Malaysian diver. The young man, whose identity remains undisclosed, lost his life while performing routine hull cleaning duties on a vessel anchored near Marina South Pier.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force swiftly responded to a distress call received at approximately 2:15 pm, dispatching emergency services to the location at 31 Marina Coastal Drive. Tragically, the diver had become entangled in one of the propellers of the supporting dive boat, a grim revelation disclosed by a spokesperson from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
The victim, employed by Dive-Marine Services, was rushed to Singapore General Hospital in critical condition. However, the severity of his injuries proved insurmountable, and he succumbed to his wounds, leaving a pall of grief over the entire diving community.
In the wake of this harrowing incident, the Ministry of Manpower has launched an investigation and promptly instructed the company to suspend all diving operations until further notice. The police, too, have initiated their own inquiries, albeit preliminary findings suggest no foul play was involved.
The ministry’s statement underscored the paramount importance of adhering to established commercial diving procedures, emphasizing the mandatory use of surface-supplied diving equipment (SSDE) or commercial self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (CSCUBA). These specialized apparatuses facilitate crucial coordination and communication between divers and supervisors during perilous underwater operations.
“Recreational self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) must not be used for commercial diving operations,” the ministry firmly asserted, highlighting the grave risks associated with employing recreational gear in professional diving contexts.
Abdul Malik Mohamed Abdul Kadir, the former chairman of the Commercial Diving Association (Singapore) (CDAS), echoed these sentiments, stressing the critical role of proper equipment in safeguarding divers from potential hazards lurking beneath the waves.
“Both the SSDE and CSCUBA come with a voice communication system for the diver to maintain contact with those on the surface, and a rope, or lifeline, to prevent the diver from being swept away by strong currents,” Malik explained. “While the SSDE supplies the diver air from the surface, the CSCUBA comes with compressed air tanks (a main tank and a back-up) that the diver carries underwater.”
He further cautioned against the use of recreational diving gear, which lacks vital safety features such as communication systems and lifelines. “Even with a buddy looking out for you, recreational equipment cannot be used for commercial diving as there are insufficient safety measures if something bad happens,” he added solemnly.
The CDAS website outlines stringent requirements for commercial divers, mandating a minimum age of 18, a current medical certificate from a registered hyperbaric and diving medical specialist, and a certificate of training in commercial diving recognized by the Ministry of Manpower.
This tragic incident marks the second workplace diving fatality in just five months, following the February 17th death of a 59-year-old Singaporean commercial diver who failed to surface while cleaning a ship’s hull off East Coast. That diver, a freelancer hired by maritime services company Alphard Offshore, is also the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Ministry of Manpower.
The diving community’s grief extends further, recalling the heartbreaking drowning of 33-year-old freelance diver Jake Seet on May 5, 2018. Seet’s life was cut short while cleaning the stern of a cargo vessel in the south-western waters near Sentosa, his communication cord tragically entangled with the seabed, preventing his ascent.
In a sobering aftermath, a diving superintendent was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment in May 2021 for failing to recognize Seet’s frantic calls for help via intercom, among other offenses.
