BMA Investigation: Seafarer killed by snapping mooring rope

The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) has issued an investigation report on an incident where a seafarer lost their lives after being struck by a snapping mooring rope. 

The incident 

On the morning of 21 October 2018, the Bahamas-flagged self-unloading bulk carrier Algoma Integrity was running extended mooring lines while attempting to come alongside the Morton Salt terminal in Port Inagua, The Bahamas, when a mooring line fouled the propeller. While the bridge team and aft mooring party focused on recovering the fouled line, a mooring line under extreme tension sprung free, severing the leg of an ordinary seafarer below the knee. Despite immediate medical assistance from the crew and medical staff ashore, the seafarer died a short while later.

The tension on the line resulted from a last-minute change to the mooring plan due to the fouled line aft, causing a single line on a warping drum to try to arrest the ship’s movement influenced by a combination of wind, tidal, and maneuvering effects. At the time of the casualty, the seafarer thought he had moved to a safe position but was most likely unaware he was standing in a bight of the coiled rope aft of the warping drum.

Conclusions:

• An ordinary seafarer died as a result of his injuries following a mooring line that sprung free from the warping drum.
• At the time of the casualty, the victim was attempting to avoid the potential for snapback from the line that was under extreme tension. He was most likely unaware he was standing in a bight of the coiled rope aft of the warping drum.
• The mooring process was complicated by the pilot’s request to use extended mooring lines and running them ashore while the vessel was 380 meters from the berth.
• The tension on the line was a result of a fouled line aft, leading to a single line on a warping drum trying to arrest the movement of the ship due to wind, tidal, and maneuvering effects.
• Although the work planned for that day had been discussed, a comprehensive review of the risks around the extended lines and use of shackles was not considered.
• First aid protocols were not effective in managing or controlling blood loss prior to or during transfer to the line boat.

Lessons learned

All personnel working in areas where mooring lines are under tension should be aware of the associated risks and ensure they maintain a safe position, free from bights, and away from the dangers of snapback and recoil when mooring lines come adrift of mooring arrangements on deck, often resulting in serious injury or fatality. Alterations and last-minute changes to mooring plans need to be effectively communicated with all parties involved to ensure a shared mental model.

source : afety4sea