200246 Making Fast The Tug

15 Feb 2002 MARS

Making Fast The Tug
Report No. 200246

The tug messenger line was taken onboard through a fairlead aft, and routed via the bitts to the adjacent winch. A chain stopper was subsequently applied to the tug towline (48mm diameter wire) in order for the eye to be placed over the bitts. During this operation, due to the design of the vessel, crew members attending the tug towline had to hang outboard of a gap in the main deck rails in order to secure the chain stopper. In some instances it was noted that crewmembers stepped over or straddled the wire with their legs in order to complete the operation.

The same scenario was repeated when 'letting go' of the tug towline. The difficulty in applying a chain stopper to the tug towline has resulted in serious breaches of good seamanship for the sake of expedience, and if left unchecked, could result in serious injury or loss of life.

FINDINGS

  1. On this class of vessel, construction is such that the bitts on the forward shoulder of the vessel are 400mm from the edge of the raised main deck, making the securing of tug wire with a chain stopper difficult to achieve without hanging outboard of the rail.
  2. Releasing the chain stopper is equally hazardous, due to the sudden weight load coming on the wire.
  3. Wearing a safety harness during operations mentioned in item 1 and 2 does not eliminate the physical hazards involved in handling the towline on this class of vessel.


The findings indicate that the design of the vessel compounded by the size of the tug towline (48mm diameter wire) are contributory factors in creating unsafe towline handling practices. The Company recognises that the situation needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

CORRECTIVE ACTION

The Company, in consultation with crew members, has considered a number of methods for resolving the problem. It was ultimately decided that sets of 'Carpenter's Stopper' be supplied to enable the tug wire to be secured safely without having to lean outboard of the ship's rail, straddle or cross over the wire during the operation and in addition, provides a 'hands free' release of the wire.

The 'Carpenter's Stopper', correctly applied, has the additional advantage of releasing the crew member, previously occupied in holding the chain stopper in position to assist with handling the tug towline. It also enables the wire to be released safely by striking the 'wedge' with a 'carpenter's maul' while standing clear of the wire. Until the sets of 'Carpenter's Stopper' are supplied, all crew members of these vessels must handle tug towlines with extreme caution, ensuring that safety harnesses are worn throughout the operation.

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