201066 Bunker tanker truck damaged by falling cargo

Bunker tanker truck damaged by falling cargo
MARS Report 201066

The vessel was discharging a cargo of steel plates with shore cranes alongside a quay. A bunker truck which had supplied bunkers to the vessel the previous evening remained parked alongside the vessel throughout the night. Its exit was blocked by the discharged cargo which remained uncleared from the wharf. At about midnight, a wire sling belonging to the stevedoring company, which was in use to discharge the steel plates, parted, and the falling steel plate fell on to the quay, striking the bunker truck, but fortunately causing only a small dent. (If the impact had been more direct, the steel plate could have pierced the tank, and also provided the energy to ignite the flammable mixture of fuel vapour and air which would have formed within the truck's empty tanks - Editor.)

On being informed, the master and OOW arrived at the scene. There was no sign that anybody had been injured and the dent damage on the truck was superficial. The master noted a protest and requested the agent and stevedore to come on board to sign it; but when they eventually arrived, some nine hours after the incident, they ignored the note, saying there was no injury or damage. However, later that evening, the bunker company representative boarded the vessel and requested the master to sign a letter of responsibility for alleged injury to the driver and damaged truck. With support coming from the representatives of the stevedoring company, charterer, P&I club, the master stated that the vessel could not be held responsible for the incident, and accordingly, he refused to sign it.

Root cause/contributory factors
1. Lack of coordination between ship's staff, stevedores and bunker supplier, relating to the initial positioning of the bunker truck;
2. Failure on the part of the stevedores to clear discharged cargo from the wharf;
3. Poor condition of the wire rope sling being used for discharge of steel plates;
4. Lack of safety awareness and poor safety standards on the part of stevedores and bunker suppliers;
5. Unsatisfactory watchkeeping and supervisory standards by ship staff.

Corrective actions
1. Bunker truck was removed from the quay after the incident;
2. Stevedores replaced the wire slings with chain slings;
3. Master summoned the local P&I club representative;
4. Ship's staff instructed the stevedores to be more safety conscious and ensure no person or vehicle to come directly under the cargo hook at any time.

Preventative actions/recommendations
1. The master held a safety meeting and discussed this incident in detail. The ship's staff were reminded to report all unsafe acts by stevedores immediately to C/O and master. If required, cargo work can be suspended until safety is restored by stevedores;
2. During cargo operations, more stringent deck watches to be maintained with proper supervision of cargo operations;
3. Management to be informed immediately whenever an incident/accident occurs, even if it appears that vessel is not liable, in order to obtain immediate guidance;
4. P&I club representative should be summoned immediately after an incident/accident occurs;
5. Report shared with the industry.