200127 Failure of Mooring Rope during Mooring

27 Jan 2001 MARS

Failure of Mooring Rope during Mooring
Report No. 200127

While berthing a bulk carrier, one of her mooring ropes parted in way of a wire thimble to which a nylon tail rope was attached.

The thimble was thrown towards the shore and hit the safety helmet of one of the mooring gang. Although the man was uninjured, his helmet was badly damaged. The mooring gang say that the weight being applied to the rope at the time seemed to be normal. Their general experience and awareness however made them wary, and may well have been the main reason why no injury occurred.

Inspection of the rope suggested that localised corrosion in way of the thimble caused the failure.

Three important lessons are suggested by the above:-

  • The importance of safety helmets for personnel involved in rope handling.
  • The importance of experience and awareness when ropes are being tightened (the mooring men were keeping clear and watching the rope as weight came on).
  • The need by ship personnel to be ever vigilant with regard to the condition of ropes.
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