IMCA Safety Flash 04-23
IMCA has published Safety Flash 04-23.
Click to download the IMCA safety Flash 04-23 here.
High potential near miss: Uncontrollable movement of auxiliary whip line
When starting up, a vessel main crane started behaving in an uncontrollable and potentially hazardous way. The block and hook were hoisted up to the sheave, when the auxiliary wire parted due to the forces applied. The block and hook were ejected forward until they hit a stair railing, approx. 4m forward of the sheave. Then the block and hook fell approx. 3m down to deck, and bounced before coming to rest. Six people were involved in the operation and found to have been at high risk had conditions been slightly different.
Uncertified lifting gear found in use
A number of shackles and other lifting equipment were observed in use onboard a vessel with no certification or inspection reports available. Some equipment was colour coded by the crew and deemed as being in good condition; other equipment was not included in the vessel lifting gear register, nor was it colour coded. Further investigation revealed that lifting equipment had been left onboard and not removed after the end of the previous project, on which client-supplied lifting equipment was used.
Dropped objects in dry dock
A member reports two dropped object incidents during a vessel dry-dock, both with serious injury potential.
Air hose connection failure
An air supply hose on an air-driven tugger winch snapped out under pressure from the cam lock adapter. A main deck air-driven tugger winch supplied through a 5cm air hose with a nominal pressure of 8 bar was connected by a cam lock coupling to the winch. This arrangement had been in place for several months. Shortly after using the winch the supply hose ejected from the cam lock adapter.
Electrolytic corrosion: failure of fire hose couplings
During routine pressure/leak testing, a fire hose fitting failed at the neck of the stub inserted into the hose. As part of annual testing of the fire hydrant hoses, two crew were assigned to conduct leak testing of the main deck fire hoses. A Number 3 hose (20m x 52mm (2”)) was connected to a fire hydrant valve and nozzle and visual inspections of the hose and valve conducted prior to testing. During the test it was noted that one end of the fire hose had disconnected. The test was stopped, and further investigation was conducted.
