Transport Malta has issued an investigation report referring to an incident on board Merito, a Maltese registered container vessel, in which the third mate was struck by a mooring rope as he was inspecting the moorings ashore in Algiers, Algeria during gale force weather conditions. The third mate suffered serious facial injuries and although paramedics arrived quickly on the scene, he succumbed to his injuries.
The safety investigation determined that he was standing in the snap back zone of the mooring rope when it parted. The MSIU was unable to determine the condition of the mooring rope because soon after the accident, a further nine ropes parted. However, a number of safety factors were identified, including the inspection regime on board and retirement criteria of damaged mooring ropes.
Report Findings
- The mooring rope parted as it was subjected to a snatch load when it took up the weight of the vessel.
- The third mate was probably not aware of the stern moving off the berth and may have not realised that he was standing in the snap back zone and was in imminent danger if the mooring rope parted.
- It is unusual for a crew member to go ashore to check the moorings. However, since the third mate did not have a direct line of sight to the bollard and the area was poorly illuminated, he went ashore.
- The aft mooring arrangements did not allow all mooring ropes to have equal tension on them.
- The mooring ropes were routinely subjected to abrasion damage thus lowering their designed breaking strength.
- The Company did not provide inspection guidance and retirement criteria to identify worn ropes.
Further details may be found by reading the report
Source: Transport Malta