Forth Guardsman Mooring Fatality – Remember Basic Safety

Mooring accidents are often nasty accidents. Enormous energies built up in mooring wires can be released suddenly and unexpectedly and the result may be death or horrific injury. As the fatality aboard the landingcraft Forth Guardman on March this year demonstrates, safety awareness is at a premium in mooring operations.

Says the investigation report from the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Board, MAIB: “an
able seaman (AB) working on board the Briggs Marine Contractors Limited (BMC) landing craft Forth Guardsman, became trapped between a mooring wire and the ship’s rail during a mooring
operation. The weight on the wire could not be released quickly enough, and the AB was pulled over the guardrail and into the sea: he was recovered, but died from his injuries.

“The investigation found that insufficient manpower had been assigned for the mooring operation, some risks had not been identified properly, seamanship practices on board were poor, the AB had stood in an open bight which closed around him, and emergency communication procedures were
inadequate.

BMC conducted its own safety investigation and as a result is undertaking a number of actions to
prevent a reoccurrence. In light of these actions the MAIB has not made any recommendations”

MAIB Report

See Also:

No Link No Moor – Mooring Link Failure

Mooring Fatality: Flumar Brasil

Tamina: Mooring Injuries Potentially Fatal

Tows Can Kill You Around Corners

Karratha Spirit Fatality: A Problem of Procedures

Covadonga Mooring Fatality

AP Moeller Incident: Plan for Safety, Not Funerals

Safety Alert – The Lash of the Moor

Accident Report – More and Moor Severe Injuries

Deadly Spring Kills Linesman

Tug Mariner

Mooring Injuries “Horrific”

Safety Alert – Wrong Shackle + Poor Awareness = Mooring Deadly Danger

BOEMRE Reissues Alert 259 On Offshore Mooring After Chain-Link Failure

Publication of Note: Understanding Mooring Line Incidents