Safety Flash
Serious injury during mooring operations: rope parted
Serious injury during mooring operations: rope parted
- IMCA
- Safety Flash
- IMCA SF 23/22
- Inspection and MaintenanceLine of FireVessel and Mooring
- Mechanical failureMooring line snapback
- Inspection and maintenanceMooring operations
- Mooring lines
- Competence and trainingOperating and work proceduresStop-work authority
- Marine industry
- Vessel
Summary
A tensioned mooring line parted during a chemical tanker’s mooring operation in Malta, striking the third officer and causing serious facial injuries. Testing found substantial loss of rope strength. The flash describes configuration and communication concerns, alongside revised risk assessments, training, residual-strength testing, rope lifetime limits and snapback-arrestor technology.
Classifications: Mechanical failure; equipment failure.
Classifications: Mooring line snapback; snap-back; snapback; mooring line recoil.
Classifications: Inspection and maintenance; asset inspection; equipment maintenance.
Classifications: Mooring operations; berthing; unmooring.
Classifications: Mooring lines; mooring rope; mooring wire.
Classifications: Competence and training; competency assurance; safety training.
Classifications: Operating and work procedures.
Classifications: Stop-work authority; stop work; stop-work intervention.
Classifications: Marine industry; shipping industry; maritime sector.
Classifications: Vessel; aboard ship; onboard vessel.
Summary
A deteriorated mooring rope parted under tension and caused serious facial injuries, leading to strengthened rope inspection and replacement controls.
IMCA SF 23/22. Themes: inspection and maintenance, line of fire, vessel and mooring.