Mooring operations are challenging and sometimes lead to fatal accidents onboard; Therefore, Gard alerts that the first line ashore has the highest potential to snap given the level of load it can experience to steady a moving vessel.
Specifically, Gard highlights that the first lines during mooring operations have to get and hold the vessel in position until the remaining mooring lines are sent ashore and vessel is safely moored.
[smlsubform prepend=”GET THE SAFETY4SEA IN YOUR INBOX!” showname=false emailtxt=”” emailholder=”Enter your email address” showsubmit=true submittxt=”Submit” jsthanks=false thankyou=”Thank you for subscribing to our mailing list”]
This results to the first lines, usually the fore and aft spring lines, experiencing significant loads. Without any tension or load indicators, the crew operating the winch may not come to know if the line has been tensioned beyond its breaking load. This makes the first lines highly susceptible to part and snap back causing a tragic incident.
Also, during the operation the bridge team is responsible on focusing on the positioning of the vessel. This means, that the mooring crew should be fully aware of the risks following the mooring operations and inform the bridge about them.
Gard highlights that
The safety of the mooring operations rests predominantly with the mooring crew and how well all the risks are communicated and understood within the team and with the bridge team.