Genfer Lloyd

The accident at Havyard, Monday 13th of February

17.02.2006

The names of our three colleagues confirmed deceased, are; Andrzej Witkowski from Szczecin,Waldemar Bartosz from Dobra,Tomasz Sztogryn from Choszczno. The accident took place at Havyard in Leirvik in the Sognefjord on Monday morning. Our people were carrying out works on the ship Geosund, where Genfer Lloyd has entered into a contract committing to manufacture and install the steel section in connection with the lengthening of the ship. The cause of the accident remains unclear, and Genfer Lloyd will not support any kind of speculation in this respect. We will carefully and confidently await the outcome of the thorough investigations currently taking place by the Norwegian police. For the same purpose, also Havyard and Genfer Lloyd have jointly put together an internal commission. Facts are that the accident took place in a former mud tank on the ship's starboard side, and that two of them had come there to rescue Andrzej Witkowski, who had been found lying in the bottom of the tank. The tank, with a diameter of about 4,2 meters, was completely open in the top, and as from a height of about 3.5 meters and up to the main deck another 3.5 meters above the second deck, also in the sides ( without walls! )Genfer Lloyd did not carry out any work in the tank, that had however been certified as free of gas. After receiving first aid, carried out by the ship's chief engineer and the emergency team at the yard, a doctor and a nurse who had arrived after a few minutes took over the medical treatment whilst the injured were still in the tank. Thereafter the injured were brought with helicopter to the Haukeland hospital in Bergen. Three representatives from Genfer Lloyd Human Resources department were present at the Haukeland hospital at 1400 hours the same day. The respective relatives that had alreadybeen informed of the accident by the Szczecin office, therefore could be informed properly of the situation. Wifes, children and the catholic Priest Dariusz, were flown from Szczecin Goleniow to Bergen, and the first group arrived at the hospital at about 2200 hours Monday evening, and were met by Joanna Jakubowska and Sylwia Zarzycka from Human Resources. Managing director Marcin Chrabaszcz, Quality Manager Adam Walczyk and Project Manager Robert Mitak, who had been accompanying the families travelling to Bergen, thereafter continued to Havyard in Leirvik the same night. Tuesday morning they were present at the yard, and had meetings with our crew as well as with the management of Havyard. The families of Andrzej Witkowski, Waldemar Bartosz and Tomasz Sztogryn have now been flown back to Poland. This week and next week, the emotional and religious aspects will stay in focus. In course of the following week, dedicated Genfer Lloyd staff will be active providing legal and financial assistance for the affected families. As stated in the contracts, and described just recently in the December edition of the Genfer Lloyd internal newspaper, all our employees are covered by insurances from both Allianz and Nordea, covering costs connected with the accident as well as providing financial support to the families. Irrespective of the insurance cover, the company will with immediate effect pay a lumpsum to each family affected, to cover various kind of unforeseen expenses. A monthly compensation equalling the respective normal salaries will be paid by the company, until replaced by the insurance cover. Finally, in line with our quality policy, during the coming weeks and months we will evaluate the tragic casualty in view of our quality system, and if, in case any failures found, we will make corrective actions and take any necessary steps to prevent any kind of similar accidents from happening again. We have been working very hard with HSE matters, as forming an integral part also of our ISO certification process. Creating a safe and healthy working environment has been and will be our priority number one. This is why we have our ongoing RUI lotteries and competitions. This is why we have our HSE training with our HSE specialist, Ryszard Szurgot, from the professional training centre Wersanet and this is why we have made our employee safety books! It is our hope that we in due course will be able to learn something from this tragic accident, so that all of us can work even harder to prevent future accidents from occurring. We are all deeply grateful for the sympathy expressions received from colleagues, mates and customers during these very difficult days for us. The management is also deeply touched by the intense efforts of our administrative personell, aiding and assisting the affected families, both in Szczecin, in Gdansk, in Bergen and at Havyard. We are also grateful for the support from our client, the rescue personell and all other involved parties. We will especially thank the staff at Haukeland hospital. We are impressed both by their proffesional and their ethical standards. Also the families are asking us to thank t

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