200967 Crew injured due to wire sling parting

 

After receiving berthing instructions, an arrived vessel in the anchorage weighed her anchor. After the anchor was clear of the water, the anchor party, comprising the third officer, bosun and one AB, could not fully house the anchor in the hawsepipe, as a twist in the cable between the gypsy and the guide roller prevented the anchor from orientating properly. The crew temporarily left the anchor in this half-housed position and attended to the berthing.

After the berthing operation, the fo'c'sle party attempted to clear the twist in the anchor cable without informing the bridge or senior staff. The plan was to temporarily take the weight of the anchor on its lashing (wire sling) by 'walking back' the windlass in gear, and then rotate the slack chain between gypsy wheel and the guide roller to remove the twist; then to lower the anchor until it assumed the correct orientation.

When the weight had been transferred to the wire sling, and the bosun was attempting to turn the slack chain, the wire lashing broke, causing the chain to jerk and hit him in the face, rendering him unconscious. He was revived and guided into the accommodation where he was examined by the chief officer before being taken to a shore hospital, where he was diagnosed with a broken cheekbone.

Result of investigations

• The master and senior officers were not informed of the hazardous task being attempted by the forward mooring party.
• No formal risk assessment was carried out.
• Two new wire slings of appropriate size had been recently supplied for securing anchors: the crew had not only failed to deploy them but had used a sling that was too small and also deteriorated due to age and exposure to the elements.

Corrective/preventative actions
Recommendation that chain be used instead of wire slings for securing anchors.

 

 

Editor's note: In the photograph, a crowbar is seen lying on the deck in the foreground. MARS 200531 (see MARS archives online) graphically illustrated the hazards of using inappropriate means to hold anchor chains. In that report, a crowbar was temporarily inserted into a link to jam it in the bow stopper when the brake could not hold the anchor cable that was under high tension. The crowbar sheared off and the Chief Officer died after being hit by a flying piece of the rod.