Safety Flash
Costly damage to azimuth thruster caused by fishing gear
Costly damage to azimuth thruster caused by fishing gear
- IMCA
- Safety Flash
- IMCA SF 21/18
- Inspection and MaintenanceMachinery and EquipmentMarine Operations
- EntanglementMechanical failure
- Inspection and maintenance
- PumpsRotating machinery
- Preventive maintenance
- Marine industry
- Vessel
Summary
Fishing nets and rope fouled a vessel’s starboard azimuth thruster. Net damage to a seal allowed seawater into the hydraulic system, degrading lubrication and damaging components. The flash describes dry-dock repairs, spare-parts delays, missing planned-maintenance tasks, recommended water-content sampling and a proposal for the manufacturer to study a net cutter.
Classifications: Entanglement; caught in machinery; drawn into machinery.
Classifications: Mechanical failure; equipment failure.
Classifications: Inspection and maintenance; asset inspection; equipment maintenance.
Classifications: Pumps.
Classifications: Rotating machinery; rotating equipment.
Classifications: Preventive maintenance; preventative maintenance; planned maintenance.
Classifications: Marine industry; shipping industry; maritime sector.
Classifications: Vessel; aboard ship; onboard vessel.
Summary
Fishing gear fouled an azimuth thruster, damaging seals and hydraulic components through seawater ingress and degraded lubrication.
IMCA SF 21/18. Themes: inspection and maintenance, machinery and equipment, marine operations.