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Toxic Gas Incident Aboard Antarctic Discovery: Four Workers Hospitalized
A routine maintenance operation aboard the fishing vessel Antarctic Discovery turned into a toxic gas emergency on February 21, 2025, when decomposing fish waste was accidentally pumped into a machinery space at Lyttelton dry dock, New Zealand. Four workers were hospitalized after exposure to hydrogen sulphide. New Zealand's Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) identified broader safety failures including inadequate equipment isolation, lack of confined-space procedures, and poor coordination between organizations. The vessel owner Australian Longline Pty. Ltd. has implemented corrective actions, and TAIC issued safety recommendations to strengthen safety-critical systems management.
