Activity
Mooring Operations
Securing or releasing vessels using lines and mooring arrangements.
Newest 100 Documents
All 186 in search- 202628 Apr
Heaving line snap-back causes injury
A tensioned heaving line broke during berthing, causing quayside workers to fall. One suffered a head impact after an unsecured helmet chin strap allowed the helmet to shift. The flash identifies missing inspections, congestion and inadequate supervision, and recommends line checks, safer positioning and stopping unsafe work.
- 202613 Feb
Fall from height during mooring due to rope tension reaction
A tanker’s propeller caught a mooring rope, loading a jetty dolphin platform until the line parted. The platform recoiled and a kneeling worker fell onto a lower platform about 1.8 metres below, sustaining minor scratches. The flash examines barrier design, body positioning, communication and keeping clear of tensioned lines.
- 202612 Jan
LTI – back injury
An Able Seaman suffered a lower-back injury while lowering a crew transfer vessel’s gangway onto the quay. The flash examines lone manual handling, crane-position constraints, uncertain gangway weight and inadequate procedural risk controls. Lessons include ideally using two people when mechanical aids cannot be used, reviewing assessments and verifying gangway weights.
- 2025Dec
CHIRP Superyacht FEEDBACK 8 (December 2025)
Superyacht incident reports examine a failed mooring attachment, captain harassment, generator starter battery explosions, collision at anchor, unsafe pilot boarding arrangements, unprotected work aloft and defective life rafts. Commentary discusses battery capacity and ventilation, engineering handovers, equipment servicing and testing, reporting concerns and organisational safety culture.
- 202517 Nov
Stay in the right place – the importance of personal positioning
Two events illustrate unsafe personal positioning: a seafarer approached a deck edge during berthing to improve visibility, and workers pushed a suspended load during lifting alongside. The flash discusses communication, barriers, hands-free lifting tools, keeping outside load impact zones, clear decks and stopping unsafe work.
- 20252 Oct
Positive: Worn mooring lines spotted and replaced before they parted
Hourly inspections aboard a vessel alongside during strong winds identified a mooring rope close to breaking. The crew replaced it and placed wooden boards beneath ropes rubbing against a bridge structure. The flash highlights vigilance during adverse weather and proposes jetty protection to reduce rope friction.
- 20254 Sep
Two hand injuries caused during mooring
Two mooring incidents involved a hand trapped by a tightening line during rough weather and a finger crushed between a rope and handrail, requiring amputation. Lessons address dedicated fender mooring points, task risk assessment, supervisory roles, stopping unsafe work and considering postponement when weather causes vessel movement.
- 2025Jul
CHIRP Superyacht FEEDBACK 10
Six superyacht reports examine dismissed safety concerns, inconsistent fall protection, unsafe pilot boarding, crew abandonment, a mooring-line injury and chemical burns. Commentary addresses leadership, reporting protection, procedural compliance and task risk assessment. An appended flag-state flyer reinforces safe working at height, equipment training and intervention in unsafe work.
- 20254 Jun
MAIB: LTI – fingers lost during mooring operations
A crew member suffered severe finger injuries while resecuring a tender’s mooring rope during a river transfer. Unequal freeboards produced a steep rope angle, and passing-boat wash moved the tender. The flash highlights entrapment risks and conditional assessment of cleat design and fitting for routine operations.
- 202529 Apr
Positive findings and good practices
This safety flash shares positive vessel practices covering machinery lockout/tagout, mooring-deck markings and engine-room housekeeping. It highlights protection against unexpected energisation, recommends warnings about potential snapback across the entire mooring deck, and describes how orderly engine rooms reduce slip, trip and fire hazards while supporting maintenance.
- 202526 Feb
Contact with pier by paddle steamer Waverley
Investigation of Waverley’s contact with Brodick pier on 3 September 2020, injuring 24 passengers and crew. Engine dead centre delayed astern propulsion. The report examines piston valve securing, lost engineering expertise, informal training and unassessed closed-end berthing risks. It records subsequent maintenance and operational changes, with no recommendations made.
- 20256 Feb
MAIB: Parted mooring rope leads to fatality
A deck officer suffered fatal head injuries when a mooring line parted during strong winds alongside a container vessel. Released tension lifted a bight aboard, rather than snapping the rope end onto the forecastle. The flash discusses snap-back zones, possible arrestors and a campaign encouraging crew to challenge unsafe positioning.
- 2025
MAIB Safety Digest 1/2025
A marine safety digest examining merchant, fishing and recreational vessel casualties, including collisions, groundings, fires, capsizes and people entering the water. Case lessons address navigation, mooring, towage, maintenance and emergency preparedness, with detailed discussion of flotation-device entanglement, battery charging, fuel hoses and vessel modifications. Reproduced bulletins and flyers provide further incident-specific learning.
- 202421 Nov
Mooring deck accident on bulk carrier Mona Manx with loss of 1 life
Investigation into a fatal mooring accident aboard Mona Manx at Puerto Ventanas, Chile. An entrapped spring line released under tension during an engine-powered astern manoeuvre and recoiled upwards, striking the second officer. The report examines procedural gaps, omitted entrapment risks, safe positioning and communication, and records subsequent safety actions.
- 202411 Nov
Snagging hazards
Two unrelated snagging incidents involved a cargo container catching on a deck light guard and a lifejacket strap engaging a tug’s anchor clutch. Slings parted in the first case; the anchor chain parted in the second. Lessons address visibility, crew communication, winch pre-use inspections and adequately sized clutch securing pins.
- 20244 Sep
MODU mooring line failure
This safety flash describes failure of one of eight mooring lines securing a MODU during drilling. The unit moved approximately 12 m and tilted 2–3 degrees before thrusters and ballasting restored its position. The account refers to Marine Safety Forum Safety Flash 12-31.
- 202418 Jul
Contact with Oikos Jetty 2 by chemical tanker Ali Ka
Investigation of Ali Ka’s contact with Oikos Jetty 2 during departure from Canvey Island without tug assistance. It examines passage planning, bridge-team coordination, propulsion orders, tidal effects and ECDIS settings. Pilot fatigue was assessed as highly likely to have contributed; recommendations address fatigue management, training, tug provision and challenge resolution.
- 20242 Jul
UK MAIB: Man overboard – unguarded opening
A crew member preparing for berthing overbalanced while swinging a heaving line around a pillar and fell through an unguarded opening. Crew recovered the person using a line; medical assessments found no injury. The flash highlights dynamic risk assessment, stopping unsafe work and subsequent installation of a railing.
- 202413 Jun
Collision between fishing vessel Kirkella and pusher tug Shovette
Investigation of Kirkella’s collision with Shovette in Hull following propulsion control transfer with mismatched pitch levers. The tug partially sank and released about 7,000 litres of diesel. The report examines control interfaces, absent interlocks, handover procedures and safety management, recording interim checks and requested system modifications.
- 20243 Jun
UK MAIB: Leg injury while mooring
This safety flash recounts a leg injury during unmooring when a messenger line snagged and wound onto a winch drum, tightening around a worker’s leg. It highlights excessive line length and restricted operator visibility, with lessons on keeping clear of moving machinery and maintaining sight and communication during remote operation.
- 202430 Apr
Trapped finger during mooring operations
A deckhand trapped his right-hand fingers while placing a spliced mooring line over bitts. Insufficient slack and forward vessel movement were identified as immediate causes. The flash discusses familiarisation, supervision, risk assessment and impact gloves, alongside line-handling alternatives and stopping the vessel where practicable.
- 202430 Apr
UK MAIB: Crew member injured by rotating crank handle – LTI
A tug crew member suffered a fractured wrist when a coupling winch’s attached crank handle spun as tensioned barge lines were released. The flash examines failure to remove the handle under the operating procedure, restricted supervisory visibility, dynamic risk assessment and toolbox talks, noting that CCTV could help.
- 20248 Apr
MODU Unlatched from Well
A moored semi-submersible drilling unit without dynamic positioning assist disconnected from its well and moved towards survival draft as storm conditions increased. Over three days, it lost four of eight mooring lines and drifted approximately 800 metres. Non-essential personnel were removed after the fourth line was lost.
- 2024
CHIRP Annual Digest 2024
This annual compilation brings together anonymised maritime incident reports and commentary on crew welfare, vessel design, engineering, deck work and navigation. Cases examine enclosed-space entry, mooring injuries, pilot ladders, machinery hazards and groundings. Discussion emphasises leadership, communication, work permits, training and lessons for conventional and autonomous vessel operations.
- 2024
CHIRP Maritime FEEDBACK 75 (Summer 2024)
Confidential maritime reports examine commercial pressure over damaged anchors, laundry and cargo fires, machinery and mooring hand injuries, inadequate provisions and a grounding. Commentary addresses escalation of concerns, bridge coordination, laundry practices, dangerous-goods stowage, machinery isolation and guarding, and keeping hands clear during mooring.
- 2024
MAIB Safety Digest 2/2024
A collection of marine accident accounts and preventive lessons spanning merchant shipping, commercial fishing and recreational boating. Cases examine steering and propulsion failures, mooring injuries, grounding, fire, flooding and capsize. Lessons address maintenance, navigation, risk assessment, equipment interfaces, watertight integrity and emergency evacuation, alongside reproduced safety bulletins and flyers.
- 202318 Dec
Two hand injuries
Two marine incidents involved a pilot’s knuckle injured by an abruptly closing access hatch and a seaman’s thumb crushed during small-boat mooring. The flash examines hatch securing, bulky backpack access, unassessed pinch points, communication and glove compliance, recommending secured hatches and separate transfer of bulky bags.
- 20233 Oct
LTI – worker fractured arm during mooring line handling
A crew member suffered a fractured left forearm when a mooring rope struck them during barge unmooring preparations. A tripped winch message was misunderstood as an all-stop signal, prompting additional coiling on a bollard while the barge moved. Lessons emphasise clear communications and further mooring and line-of-fire training.
- 20233 Oct
Serious hand injury during mooring operations
A dock worker sustained a serious hand injury while removing a mooring rope from a bollard during vessel departure preparations. The flash describes insufficient slack, rising tension at the winch and absent messenger or tail lines. It highlights inadequate planning and risk assessment, hand positioning and readiness to stop unsafe work.
- 202315 Aug
CHIRP: Crew vigilance prevents mooring incident
A CHIRP event describes abrasion between mooring lines on a bulk carrier moving alongside a wharf in swell. Crew monitoring identified damage, and communication supported replacement and re-routing before the lines parted. The flash highlights teamwork and the importance of mooring fitting design and directional leads in limiting abrasion.
- 202314 Aug
MODU mooring systems in cyclonic conditions information paper
This information paper examines cyclonic mooring risks for mobile offshore drilling units. It discusses site-specific design return periods, met-ocean and seabed inputs, component degradation, installation assurance and change management. Operational guidance covers line-tension management, inspection performance standards, emergency preparedness and consideration of position monitoring during cyclone evacuation.
- 202324 Jul
LTI – Crew member fell down open hatch
A crew member securing a rope during mooring stumbled into an open hatchway, sustaining three broken ribs and a lost time injury. The flash identifies failures in communication and hazard recognition, absent barriers and warning signs, and lack of a toolbox meeting. It recommends task-specific briefings and discussing protective measures.
- 20234 Apr
LTI finger injury during mooring operations
An able seaman broke his left index finger while unmooring after ship-to-ship refuelling, losing 45 days of work. The flash identifies poor glove condition, insufficient rope slack, absent rope extensions and inadequate oversight of inexperienced personnel. Lessons address supervision, rope extensions and sufficient slack during handling.
- 2023
CHIRP Annual Digest 2023
An annual compilation of confidential maritime incident reports and analytical articles covering shipping, commercial fishing, ports and superyachts. Case commentaries examine navigation, mooring, lifting, equipment failures and enclosed-space entry. Wider discussions address safety culture, communication, seafarer wellbeing and fatigue, including an indicative watchkeeper fatigue assessment tool.
- 2023
CHIRP Maritime FEEDBACK 72 (Autumn 2023)
This maritime digest examines an averted mooring-line failure, a lithium-ion battery cargo fire, contractor fatigue, a diver’s propeller injury, tanker engine-control difficulties and a fisher’s overboard rescue. It discusses mooring design, dangerous-goods packing, rest arrangements, diver visibility, emergency teamwork and personal rescue equipment, alongside two improper cargo-stowage reports.
- 2023
CHIRP Ports and Harbours Feedback summer 2023
This inaugural ports and harbours digest analyses five reports involving a quayside ladder fall, failed moorings and collisions, ferry traffic conflict, a trapped mooring launch and container-ship grounding. Commentary examines safe access, casualty recovery, bollard capacity, wind loading, navigation aids and communication between port authorities, pilots and vessel crews.
- 2023
CHIRP Superyacht FEEDBACK 4 (Autumn 2023)
This superyacht digest analyses an allergic reaction, faulty gangway installation, a dive-vessel capsize, berth-departure contact, mooring injuries and grounding followed by dismissal of a reporting watchkeeper. Commentary examines equipment certification, stability testing, medical preparedness, line-handling teamwork, passage planning and constructive challenges to unsafe decisions.
- 2023
MAIB Safety Digest 2/2023
A multi-case marine safety digest draws lessons from navigation incidents, fires, falls, cargo lifting, mooring injuries and fishing casualties. Case analyses examine communication, electrical work, lifejacket use and recovery arrangements. Reproduced bulletins and flyers address fuel-hose modifications, liferaft servicing, carbon monoxide poisoning and fatal man-overboard incidents.
- 2022Dec
CHIRP Maritime FEEDBACK 69
This maritime digest examines unsafe pilot boarding arrangements, helm execution, substandard ship conditions, collision avoidance, a crushed mooring launch and yacht grounding. Commentary emphasises closed-loop communication, challenging unsafe directions and port coordination. A separate article explores links between fishing crews’ working conditions, labour exploitation and safety.
- 202216 Nov
Semi-submersible Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU) Unlatched From Well in Progress
A semi-submersible drilling unit was disconnected from its well and at a survival location during a storm when two mooring wires failed. Released fairleads punctured the hull and subsequently collided, sustaining significant damage. The identified primary wire failure mechanism was high-load, low-cycle bending fatigue.
- 202216 Nov
Semi-submersible MODU Total Failure During Severe Weather Event
During severe weather on a semi-submersible MODU, an anchor winch chain lifter fractured under chain tension, releasing the anchor and tail chains to the seabed. Metallurgical analysis found a manufacturing cavity extending over approximately one-third of the cross-sectional circumference, reducing wall thickness to around half that of the unaffected portion.
- 20228 Nov
Failure of moorings during heavy weather
A drill ship preparing for lay-up broke its moorings in storm-force winds and drifted until a pre-deployed anchor held. The flash identifies delayed thruster availability, failure to request tug assistance and planning shortcomings. Recommendations address timely thruster starting, improved mooring plans, emergency response and lay-up procedures.
- 20228 Nov
MAIB: mv Teal Bay mooring fatality
This flash summarises MAIB findings on a fatal mooring-line strike aboard Teal Bay during ship-to-ship grain loading. It examines open fairlead containment, increasing lead angles, insufficient crewing and planning, and delayed medical response. Actions include crew training and planned replacement of open fairleads; remote investigation constrained available evidence.
- 202224 Oct
Serious injury during mooring operations: rope parted
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.
- 202214 Jul
Mooring deck accident on general cargo vessel Teal Bay with loss of 1 life
Investigation of a fatal mooring deck accident aboard Teal Bay during ship-to-ship grain loading at Kavkaz South anchorage. A tensioned spring line escaped an open roller fairlead during warping. The report examines upward line leads, shared fairlead use, insufficient crewing, planning and risk assessment, and delays in coordinating medical evacuation.
- 20224 Jul
American P&I Club: Extreme bollard pull
A container vessel’s four bow lines overloaded a single dock bollard through their self-tensioning winches after crane obstruction prompted a departure from normal mooring practice. The bollard failed, but spring lines limited vessel movement and nobody was injured. The flash highlights bollard capacity checks and assessment of changed mooring arrangements.
- 20224 Jul
Lost Time Injuries due to a failed mooring line
A stern-to-quayside mooring line failure injured two crew members through snapback, resulting in lost time injuries. The flash discusses rope friction, shortened line length, mooring routing and gaps in risk assessment. Lessons address improved camera monitoring, line protection and conditional routing changes to avoid snapback exposure on the working deck.
- 20221 Apr
Mooring near miss: Guide roller pin suffered material failure
A vessel’s deck stand guide roller pin failed during mooring and struck a heater, without injury. Investigation identified degradation, inadequate inspection and a complicated line arrangement that increased axial forces and overloaded structures. Lessons address suitable mooring arrangements, avoiding multiple turns, toolbox discussions and three-yearly roller dismantling and overhaul.
- 202211 Mar
Non-fatal man overboard incident
A pilot fell into the water while attempting to leave a mooring boat before it was securely moored. He escaped uninjured using an inflated lifejacket and jetty ladder, although the lifejacket was incorrectly secured. The flash addresses safe disembarkation, buddy support, lifejacket fastening and gangway safeguards.
- 2022Feb
CHIRP Maritime FEEDBACK 66 (February 2022)
This maritime incident digest examines accommodation ladder failure, unsafe floating-armoury conditions, personnel falls, defective workboat lifting eyes, berthing errors, a fatal tug-line incident and a hydraulic motor fire. Commentary addresses maintenance, securing arrangements, bridge resource management, mooring briefings, human-centred deck design and collision-avoidance communication.
- 2022
CHIRP Annual Digest 2022
A compilation of maritime cases published during 2022, with commentary and supporting insight articles. Reports examine navigation, pilot boarding, mooring, towing, engineering maintenance and working conditions. Discussions address communication, bridge-team challenge, pressurised equipment, harness arrangements, risk assessment, permits and training, alongside examples of unsafe practice and effective intervention.
- 20212 Dec
UHMPE pull-in rope damaged during mooring connection to buoy
During a subsea buoy mooring connection, a UHMPE pull-in rope escaped ROV control, damaging its arm, while the rope’s other end entered a propeller and was cut. The flash identifies current, propulsion wash, insufficient catenary monitoring and underestimated deck friction, and records amendments to the installation procedure and task plan.
- 20216 May
Swedish Club: Lessons learned – crew member loses leg in mooring injury
A crew member lost a leg after becoming trapped between a rapidly paying-out mooring line and a fairlead. The lines sank and caught in the propeller. The flash examines how a bight around a bollard expanded the snapback zone and highlights the need to reassess mooring risks for each operation.
- 202127 Apr
Only a centimetre – an emergency exit hatch blocked by mooring ropes
A daily inspection aboard a vessel alongside in port identified an engine-room escape hatch obstructed by mooring ropes on bitts. The flash attributes the condition to design oversight and earlier inspections failing to detect it, and calls for emergency exits to remain unobstructed, illuminated and maintained.
- 202116 Apr
Mooring: Increase in first aid cases involving over-exertion
This safety flash reports several recent over-exertion accidents, mostly during mooring and heavy-line handling. It identifies excessive loads, improper handling and awkward posture as causes. Actions include stretching before strenuous work, considering movements, inspecting dock areas, keeping lines clear and checking dock and vessel condition before manoeuvres.
- 2021Apr
MAIB Safety Digest 1/2021
A marine accident digest presenting separate lessons for merchant shipping, fishing vessels and recreational craft. Cases examine unsafe access, lifting gear, engine fires, navigation, capsize and flooding. Discussions address risk assessment, supervision, casualty recovery, mooring checks and navigation aids. Appendix coverage dates refer specifically to investigations started, rather than incident dates.
- 20214 Mar
Vessel hull damage due to quayside contact
Two incidents at Great Yarmouth involved vessel hull and fender damage at quaysides. One involved a displaced Yokohama fender and penetration by a pad eye; the other involved unsuitable rubber-faced steel plate fenders. Weather contributed to both. Recommendations address berthing appraisal, pre-arrival briefings, unsuitable berths and monitoring conditions alongside.
- 202123 Feb
Inappropriate use of pneumatic line thrower for mooring line
A vessel’s crew used a pneumatic line thrower during mooring after difficulty getting a heaving line ashore. Two projectiles disappeared and a warehouse window was broken approximately 100 metres from the vessel. The flash identifies shortcomings in instructions, risk assessment and communication, and emphasises managing changed plans, toolbox talks and stopping unsafe work.
- 202119 Jan
Dutch Safety Board: Fatality when mooring line snapped
This safety flash summarises a fatal mooring-line recoil aboard RN Privodino while entering a lock. It examines transfer between winch drums while the vessel was moving, communication failures and restricted supervision. Lessons address vessel positioning before tensioning lines, supervisors’ workload and changing snap-back danger areas.
- 20215 Jan
Stop work authority enforced – unsafe conditions, no appropriate lifting gear available
A master cancelled a planned aviation fuel tank collection after finding the platform landing unsuitable for an AHTS vessel and appropriate heavy-lift gear unavailable. The flash highlights stakeholder communication, leadership by example and crew authority to stop operations when risks cannot be controlled to a reasonably practicable level.
- 2021
CHIRP Annual Digest 2021
This annual maritime digest combines confidential incident reports with specialist insights into human performance and seafarer wellbeing. Cases examine pilot boarding, mooring, propulsion failures, fires and maintenance. Commentary discusses fatigue management, risk assessment and communication, alongside trauma-informed interviewing and confidential reporting arrangements.
- 2021
MAIB Safety Digest 2/2021
A collection of merchant, fishing and recreational vessel cases examines navigation errors, mooring hazards, machinery fires, flooding and immersion. Lessons address task planning, supervision, maintenance, enclosed-space precautions and emergency readiness. Appendices list investigations and reports and reproduce provisional guidance on anchor failures during prolonged cruise-ship anchoring.
- 202010 Nov
Pilots leaving the vessel in port in an unsafe manner
Two incidents involving pilots leaving unstable gangways before they rested on the jetty resulted in a medical treatment case and a near miss. The flash recommends completing mooring before disembarkation, ensuring the gangway lies flat with crew attending, communicating delays, using available shoreside assistance where possible and wearing lifejackets.
- 20209 Oct
Positive: Parted mooring lines spotted before damage could occur
Crew working on a barge noticed another barge’s unusual position at an anchorage and suspected a parted mooring line. A company tug confirmed the damage and the line was replaced. Follow-up actions recognised the crew’s responsibility and arranged regular checks of laid-up barges, particularly before forecast high winds.
- 202014 Aug
Hull damage caused oil leakage from settling tank
A vessel’s fuel settling tank was punctured during berthing where protective fendering was missing, causing oil leakage. Port maintenance had not been communicated, while quayside access restrictions limited observation. Lessons address berthing risk assessment, decision-making information, possible shoreside support, alternative inboard tank arrangements and pollution emergency planning.
- 202013 Jul
MOB fatality: Person fell between vessel and jetty
This flash summarises MAIB findings on the fatal crushing of Cherry Sand’s Master during self-mooring at Rosyth. He attempted to step ashore before the dredger was alongside. It highlights hazardous transfer practices, absent linesmen and audit shortcomings, alongside recommendations concerning self-mooring guidance and fleetwide procedures.
- 202020 May
Man overboard from dredger Cherry Sand with loss of 1 life
These annexes bring together maritime medical fitness standards, UK Dredging transfer risk assessments, Cherry Sand’s mooring instructions and a new-joiner induction form. They address eyesight testing, physical capability, boarding unmoored vessels, mooring-line handling and winch operation, with requirements for bridge permission, briefings and protective equipment.
- 202028 Apr
Vessel gangway rolled off platform tower and fell to the quayside in high wind
A vessel in port moved away from the quay during gusts exceeding 50 knots, causing its gangway to roll off a tower platform and fall approximately 5.2 m. Nobody was harmed. The flash examines mooring stretch, unrecognised falling-load risk and access design, and recommends reviewing weather reports and access risk assessments.
- 202017 Mar
Damage and engine room flooding following contact by tugboat
A tug lost manoeuvrability during berthing and struck a vessel, tearing its hull and flooding the engine room. Emergency bilge suction using a ballast pump controlled the flooding. The flash examines excessive vessel speed, rough weather, communication and supervision failures, and stresses the master’s authority and familiarity with damage-control arrangements.
- 202020 Feb
Collision between ro-ro passenger ferry Red Falcon and moored yacht Greylag
These annexes assemble ferry navigation risk assessments, a chief officer training form and Cowes Harbour directions. They address restricted visibility, collision and grounding risks, tidal manoeuvring, radar and ECDIS use, bridge communications and competence assessment, alongside precautions for vessels rafted at Shepards Marina.
- 201917 Dec
Improper use of heaving line
A safety flash describes vessel crew using a 4-ton shackle on a heaving line during mooring because a line with a monkey fist was unavailable. Actions included reviewing the mooring risk assessment and checking adequate supplies, with at least nine suitable heaving lines required in this case.
- 20196 Dec
Unsafe boarding during unmooring operation
During departure from port, crew climbed over the vessel’s side to release shoreside mooring lines without safe boarding arrangements, despite a briefing on shore-based support. The flash identifies procedural, risk-assessment and change-management failures, and absent stop-work intervention. Lessons address crew acting as linesmen, advance contingency planning and assessment of changes.
- 20195 Dec
Fall while boarding tug Millgarth with loss of 1 life
Investigation of a fatal fall while boarding Millgarth at Tranmere Oil Terminal. The chief engineer most likely slipped on a wet fender and died from cardiac arrest due to cold water immersion. The report examines self-mooring, shared access risks, recovery equipment, crew training and unsuccessful rescue attempts.
- 201922 Nov
Finger trapped and injured whilst moving hatch covers
An able seaman suffered a serious finger injury while securing a heavy forecastle hatch after mooring. Its awkward position required reaching or climbing, and the hazard was inadequately assessed. The flash describes withdrawing the hatch from mooring use, temporary alternative line routing, possible damping or relocation, and vessel-wide hazard hunts.
- 201928 Oct
Marine Operations
HSE guidance supports offshore inspectors in assessing dutyholders’ marine operations and assigning compliance ratings. It covers vessel assurance, collision prevention, cargo transfer, rig moves, walk-to-work gangways and multi-role rescue vessels. Inspection criteria examine operational limits, risk assessments, certification and whether additional vessel duties compromise response and rescue capability.
- 2019Oct
MAIB Safety Digest 2/2019
A collection of marine accident lessons spanning merchant shipping, commercial fishing and recreational boating. Cases examine collisions, grounding, machinery failures, falls, fires and people overboard. Discussions emphasise passage planning, bridge teamwork, equipment maintenance, lifejackets, realistic recovery arrangements and emergency drills, with reproduced bulletins on vehicle-deck safety and retractable ballast securing.
- 201923 Aug
LTI during mooring operations
A crewman suffered a hairline fracture to his right hand while attempting to stop a rapidly slackening breast line during vessel mooring. The flash identifies misjudgement of the moving line’s force, inadequate qualifications, absence of an officer in charge, unenforced procedures and an unassessed risk.
- 201923 Aug
Mooring incident: Mooring line slipped off and snapped back
A cargo barge’s mooring line slipped from its bollards and recoiled into an attending tug, damaging its antenna dome. Temporary loss of barge control led to a collision without damage. The flash examines incorrect mooring arrangements, backward-angled bollards and towing-bridle slack, and discusses conditional figure-of-eight mooring, training and contingency practice.
- 2019Apr
MAIB Safety Digest 1/2019
A marine accident digest examining merchant, fishing and recreational vessel casualties. Cases address collisions, groundings, mooring equipment failures, fires, flooding and fatal water-entry accidents. Lessons discuss passage planning, equipment testing, alarm accuracy, emergency arrangements and risk assessment. A reproduced bulletin examines oxygen deficiency during refrigerated salt-water tank entry.
- 201927 Feb
Corrosion: Failure of bolts on a cargo barge bollard
A cargo barge’s centre bow bollard toppled while an additional mooring line was taken up during pipelay operations. Corroded securing bolts no longer connected it to the deck, and the bollard was not intended for mooring. The flash recommends engineered mooring arrangements and detailed inspection of bolted load-bearing connections.
- 201830 Oct
Incorrectly Weighted Monkey’s Fist
A quayside boatman raised concerns after a monkey’s fist was thrown ashore during mooring. Inspection found it unusually heavy, with protruding concrete and a concrete interior beneath two rope layers. The flash describes its potential to cause serious injury and the subsequent vessel discussion and safety memo.
- 201825 Sep
High Potential Near Miss: Line of Fire During Mooring Operations
An offshore support vessel’s mooring hawser trapped a seafarer against a stair handrail during manoeuvring around a sea buoy. The flash examines buoy fouling, sea conditions, restricted visibility and missing deck-clear confirmation. Actions include a replacement buoy, a clear-deck policy, VHF confirmation, planned toolbox/JSA reviews and an alternative azimuth-drive manoeuvre.
- 201820 Jul
USCG: bollard failures at marine facilities
This flash summarises USCG reports of shoreside bollard failures that left moored vessels adrift, sometimes damaging vessels and shore structures without injuries or deaths. Issues included rotted pilings, possible pre-existing fractures and deteriorated bollard bases. USCG strongly recommended routine inspections and advised vessel personnel to report apparent deficiencies.
- 201811 Apr
Rope on propeller causing partial loss of propulsion
A platform supply vessel suffered partial loss of propulsion after a mooring rope entered the water and fouled its port propeller. The flash identifies deficient planning, risk assessment and communication during mooring, including delayed notification to the bridge. Lessons emphasise coordinated communication, more detailed risk assessment and stopping work when in doubt.
- 201831 Jan
Snapped mooring line
A stern mooring line jammed in a winch storage drum while a vessel entered a port lock, then parted under tension as the vessel moved forward. No crew were struck. The flash emphasises pre-mooring briefings, equipment checks, clearing jammed lines and communication between stations and the bridge.
- 201823 Jan
High potential near miss: AB slipped over the side during mooring operations
An able seaman slipped into the sea while jumping from a vessel to the quay during mooring. He held a fender, and the Master manoeuvred to prevent crushing and propeller exposure. The flash examines procedural violations, failure to intervene and management acceptance of an unsafe practice.
- 201720 Oct
Stored energy near miss: Person nearly hit by equipment caught during light daughtercraft operations
A stand-by diver narrowly avoided a block and tackle projected when a mooring line caught a deployed rescue davit on a light daughtercraft. The flash examines hurried transit preparations, restricted monitoring and procedural gaps, and records revised departure hold points, operating checklists and practical familiarisation requirements.
- 201725 Jul
High potential incident: Fast rescue craft capsized
A fast rescue craft capsized during a near-shore seismic survey after towed equipment snagged on the seabed and weather deteriorated. Four people entered the sea without injury. The flash discusses overridden stop-work intervention, loading limits and emergency arrangements, alongside two further small-boat incidents involving swell, collision and floating hoses.
- 201725 Jul
Parting of hawser and bulk cargo hose during tandem mooring
During tandem bunkering at sea, a mooring rope parted under intermittent jerking as both vessels yawed. Fuel transfer had not begun because the receiving vessel’s pump would not start. The empty hose subsequently parted during tugger-winch retrieval after becoming entangled. The flash discusses postponing operations pending pump readiness or improved weather.
- 201725 Jul
Unsafe mooring practices
A vessel inspection identified ropes attached to mooring winch levers for improvised remote operation. The flash highlights unintended activation, crew entanglement and inadequate winch control. It recommends sufficient personnel supervised by a certified officer for equipment handling, communications and directing the winchman.
- 201715 Jun
Failure of mooring line on board LNG carrier Zarga with 1 person injured
Investigates a spring-line failure during Zarga’s repositioning at South Hook LNG terminal, seriously injuring the mooring officer. Destructive testing, microscopy and modelling examined jacketed HMPE rope degradation and snap-back. Findings address axial compression fatigue, line–fairlead compatibility, misleading safe areas, supervision and ineffective inspection and retirement arrangements.
- 201715 Jun
High potential near-miss: Mooring rope parted
A mooring buoy rope parted while a vessel was moored, without injury or vessel damage. The flash attributes failure to wear and inadequate routine inspection. Lessons address regular rope inspection, withdrawal of ropes in poor condition, and crew briefings on defects and snapback precautions.
- 201725 May
Catastrophic fire and explosion on nearby vessel
A petroleum tanker fire and explosion in Sharjah killed one crew member, injured four and prompted evacuation of sixteen sailors. Flying debris damaged a nearby vessel, whose crew mustered and prepared emergency departure. The flash stresses readiness to cast off during emergencies and vigilance towards surrounding vessels.
- 20166 Dec
Vessel made contact with quay
A vessel struck a quay while shifting berth at night with two assisting tugs, damaging shell plating and quay concrete. The investigation identified unequal tug pushing, misjudged pushing power, language barriers and missing procedures. Preventative actions addressed the working language, Master intervention and compliance with Master–pilot relationship guidelines.
- 201617 Nov
Capsize and flooding of berthed scallop dredger Fredwood resulting in loss of the vessel
Investigates Fredwood’s loss on a drying berth at Maryport. Untended mooring lines preceded a port list, placing the vessel’s weight on a protruding sonar tube and damaging hull planking. The report examines delayed emergency action, changed berth conditions after dredging and harbour safety management, recommending adequate resources for the commercial docks.
- 201616 Nov
Grounding and capsize of berthed trawler Saint Christophe 1 resulting in loss of the vessel
This investigation examines two French trawlers grounding at Dartmouth while sheltering from bad weather. Saint Christophe 1 capsized and flooded; Sagittaire’s crew arrested its list with chains. Findings address the sloping berth, misunderstood warnings, deficient watertight closures, missing harbour charts and ineffective implementation of port risk controls.
- 201618 Oct
Unsafe method of rope work resulted in severe hand injury
An Able Seaman suffered injuries to three fingers while spooling a mooring line onto a tugger winch before arrival in port. A slipping crowbar trapped his fingers against a roller. The flash identifies an unsafe spooling method, absent risk assessment and toolbox talk, and his being new aboard.
- 20167 Oct
Fall from tug Svitzer Moira with loss of 1 life
Investigates an engineer’s fatal crushing between two tugs at Royal Portbury Dock. He probably fell while transferring before the vessels were fully alongside, possibly through slipping or tripping. The report examines deck supervision, communications, mooring procedures, PPE use and comparative footwear slip-resistance testing, alongside company and port actions.
- 201630 Jun
Mooring rope fouled the propeller and parted
During berthing, excessively slackened mooring ropes fouled a turning propeller, became taut and parted. Near-vertical recoil missed crew standing in the snapback zone. The flash identifies communication, awareness and supervision shortcomings, and records preventive actions involving risk assessment, briefings, crew retraining and ship-specific constraints.
- 201618 Apr
Damage to hand rails during mooring operations
A safety flash describes a minor collision during alongside mooring for a passenger transfer to a barge. The vessel’s bow contacted the barge’s hand rails, causing slight damage. The barge master permitted mooring without Yokohama fenders; the bridge team continued and nobody stopped the operation.