Case Study: Crew Member Suffers Hand Injury While Mooring
A vessel was preparing to depart. The Master and pilot decided to use the ropes which were already reeved on winches from casting off for making fast the tug. The aft mooring team did not challenge this decision. After lowering around 45 metres of rope to the tug, one of the two ropes given to the tug was found to be wedged in the section coiled on the winch and was not paying out freely.
Additionally, the lead from the winch to the mooring bitt was not straight and did not facilitate easy lowering.
A crewmember was assigned to clear the stuck rope from the winch. As he was attempting this, the tug pulled on the lines to confirm that both lines were equal in length. The pull caused a sudden surge of the line which struck the crewmember’s right hand. He sustained a fracture and was later signed off on medical grounds for further medical attention ashore.
Lessons learned
- Mooring ropes should not be passed directly from winch drums to a tug as the lower layers of rope may get stuck. They should be flaked on the deck before being passed to the tug.
- The length of rope needed by the tug should be agreed as a part of the Master-Pilot exchange and the ropes should be flaked out accordingly in advance.
- A turn of flaked out rope should be taken on the mooring bitt so that the crew can safely control the speed of lowering.
- Ship’s staff should resist unreasonable demands from the tug or even the bridge team if they think there is a risk to safety.
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Disclaimer :
The information on this website is for general purposes only. While efforts are made to ensure accuracy, we make no warranties of any kind regarding completeness, reliability, or suitability. Any reliance you place on such information is at your own risk. We are not liable for any loss or damage arising from the use of this website.
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