As UK MAIB reports in its most recent Safety Digest, a cruise ship was being prepared for departure from a Caribbean port and an able seaman (AB) was working on the mooring deck, using a messenger line around the mooring rope to guide it onto a winch drum.
A deckhand was operating the winch remotely, and with limited visibility of the AB’s position near the drum, when the messenger line suddenly snagged under the mooring rope and became wound onto the winch drum itself. Realising what had happened the AB let go of the messenger line, but was unaware that it had formed a bight around their right leg. As the bight tightened, the AB was pulled towards the winch drum and then dragged over it. The AB’s screams alerted the winch operator, who promptly stopped the winch.
The AB was disentangled from the messenger line and immediately taken ashore for medical treatment for a broken shin bone and other leg injuries.
Credit: UK MAIB
Lessons learned
- Margin of safety → Exercise caution around moving machinery. Avoid getting too close to rotating equipment and ensure that loose clothing or any objects that can become caught in it are kept clear. The long messenger line used to guide the mooring rope was able to reach the deck and wrap itself around the AB’s leg, leading to the accident. Maintaining a safe distance from the winch drum is essential to prevent such incidents.
- Observe → When operating equipment remotely, it is crucial to have clear visibility of the people and surroundings involved. Remote control allows operators to move around the deck while operating machinery from a safe distance, such as outside snapback zones and clear of suspended loads; however, it is important to maintain a line of sight to monitor the working area effectively and to be able to communicate with colleagues to prevent accidents and respond promptly to any potential issues.
