MCA has published Safety Flash 18/25

Click here to download the IMCA Safety Flash 18/25.

Positive: Worn mooring lines spotted and replaced before they parted

On a vessel alongside on a windy night, hourly walkarounds were being conducted as instructed by the Officer of the watch. During one of these inspections, it was observed that one of the mooring ropes had nearly reached its breaking point due to the strong wind and the structural characteristics of the berth.

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Worker suffered eye injuries in electric arc incident

A Vessel ETO (Electro-Technical Officer) sustained light burn injuries to the eyes (“arc-eye”) due to an electrical arc spike during disconnection of a shore power cable. The ETO reportedly switched off the breaker at the quayside and managed to disconnect the cable from vessel shore connection Junction box. When pulling out the cable, it appeared that cable was still energized from shore side and an electric arc occurred, causing light burn injury to the eyes.

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Crane cab access platform collapsed

The incident occurred as the Crane Operator (Bosun) was starting work. While the Bosun was climbing the ladder to the cab, the access platform with its protective cage, connected to the crane base, suddenly failed. As a result, the Crane Operator fell within the ladder’s protective enclosure, which partially mitigated the fall. The Crane Operator was shaken but not injured.

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USCG: Lithium-Ion battery system installations

An integrated Li-ion battery bank recently caught fire onboard an inspected passenger vessel when loosely crimped lugs overheated. While no one was injured and the vessel sustained minimal damage, the event highlights safety hazards unique to Li-ion batteries.

The USCG recommended that integrated (installations used for propulsion and electrical power) Li-ion battery systems should undergo engineering plan review, be fitted with supporting safety systems, be tested and inspected at installation and periodically afterward, and be properly maintained by competent mariners, regardless of the battery bank size or end consumer.

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Dropped object due to over-ridden limit switch

The event occurred whilst lifting an item (weighing approx. 300kg) from the deck of a vessel deck, for overboarding in subsea operations. The crane operator’s instructions were to heave the crane wire rope to lift the crane hook; whilst doing this, the crane operator disengaged the safety limit switch in order to be able to lift the hook around 2m higher.

As the wire came in, the mini beacon (positioned just above the hook weight – weighing approx. 6kg) contacted the safety limit switch clump weight, resulting in the beacon coming loose and falling to the main deck (approx. 4m). One of the two wire restraints for the clump weight parted, and a cable from one proximity sensor parted. There were no injuries.

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