A tanker had finished a discharging operation and crew were carrying out pre-departure checks and preparations while awaiting the pilot.

A bulk carrier was in port. Following recommendations from a surveyor, the holds were to be painted to render them acceptable for grain transport.

The pilot arrived on the bridge and asked for ‘full ahead’. As the ship passed through the port entrance at seven knots the pilot ordered ‘slow ahead’ and a berthing tug was made fast forward.

As they were letting go the lines on the upper deck, they heard a noise at the port side break of the accommodation. On going there, they found an injured crew member lying on the deck.

The vessel was moored port side to the berth. A few minutes later the vessel’s rate of turn slowed and the bridge team realised that the vessel had moved further south than desired, very close to shallow water.

The crew member fell back towards the deck about one metre below, and instinctively tried to catch himself on the grating. As he did so, his left-hand ring finger was trapped between the gratings.