Safety Flash
Failure of bell winch clutch coupling during bell recovery
Failure of bell winch clutch coupling during bell recovery
- IMCA
- Safety Flash
- IMCA SF 18/14
- DivingInspection and MaintenanceMachinery and Equipment
- Mechanical failure
- Inspection and maintenanceLifting operationsSaturation diving
- Diving bellWinch
- Functional testingOperating and work proceduresPreventive maintenance
- Marine industry
- SubseaVessel
Summary
A worn winch clutch disengaged during saturation bell recovery, allowing the partly submerged bell to descend to 10 msw without injury. The flash examines component wear, brake operation and maintenance omissions, and describes coupling visibility improvements, wear measurements, alternating motors and revised inspection and maintenance arrangements.
Classifications: Mechanical failure; equipment failure.
Classifications: Inspection and maintenance; asset inspection; equipment maintenance.
Classifications: Lifting operations; load lifting; hoisting.
Classifications: Saturation diving; sat diving.
Classifications: Diving bell; closed bell; wet bell.
Classifications: Winch; winches.
Classifications: Functional testing; function test.
Classifications: Operating and work procedures.
Classifications: Preventive maintenance; preventative maintenance; planned maintenance.
Classifications: Marine industry; shipping industry; maritime sector.
Classifications: Subsea; underwater worksite.
Classifications: Vessel; aboard ship; onboard vessel.
Summary
A worn clutch disengaged during saturation bell recovery, causing an uncontrolled descent and exposing shortcomings in inspection and maintenance.
IMCA SF 18/14. Themes: diving, inspection and maintenance, machinery and equipment.