(www.MaritimeCyprus.com) On the morning of 26 August 2021, the second officer of the Isle of Man registered bulk carrier Mona Manx was fatally injured when he was struck by a recoiling mooring line while the vessel was berthing at Puerto Ventanas, Chile. The line had become entrapped between the vessel and the berth, probably in way of a fender, then suddenly released as the vessel manoeuvred astern under its own power.
The investigation concluded that the second officer was struck because he was standing in the danger zone of the tensioned mooring line when it released and that:
- It is highly probable that the second officer moved to the danger zone to obtain an improved view of the mooring line as the vessel manoeuvred.
- Mona Manx was manoeuvered astern under its own power in contravention of the port’s procedures.
- The risks associated with mooring lines detailed in the Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers did not include the hazards associated with line entrapment and vertical recoil.
- Not all available information on the safe berthing of Mona Manx was discussed during the master/pilot exchange before the vessel entered the port.
- Mona Manx’s manoeuvre astern with mooring lines deployed was not the subject of a toolbox talk nor risk assessed by the vessel’s crew and the hazard associated with mooring line recoil was not mitigated.
- It is possible that congested radio communication reduced the crew’s ability to safely conduct the berthing operation.
Recommendations
The port company, Puerto Ventanas S.A, is recommended (2024/167) to review and update the information made available to masters and pilots before a port call, including instructions that engines are not to be used to conduct manoeuvres while moored alongside and guidance on the risks associated with line entrapment on shore fixtures and fittings, such as fenders.
The Quintero Port Authority is recommended (2024/168) to ensure that the master/pilot exchanges conducted by its pilots consider the risks associated with mooring line entrapment and recoil and vessels manoeuvring alongside using their engines.
For more details, click below to download the full UK MAIB investigation report:
Source: MAIB
For more maritime investigation reports, click HERE.
