Mars Reports 2015
The Nautical Institute has issued a Mars Report regarding the danger ofpainted capstan or windlass drum ends.
Many recently audited ships have been found to have painted capstan or windlass drum ends (rounded contact surface) and some crews and Masters are adamant that there is nothing wrong with this practice.
The problem, however, is that the paint itself is the hazard. As the rope is surged on the drum, it creates friction which melts the paint. As soon as the surging is stopped, the paint solidifies and glues the rope to the drum.
The rope will then not surge and cannot be slacked until the bond is broken, usually with a corresponding jump in the rope. This jump is easily capable of breaking a wrist or worse.
Source: Nautical Institute
|
The Mariners’ Alerting and Reporting Scheme (MARS) is primarily a confidential reporting system run by The Nautical Institute to allow full reporting of accidents (and near misses) without fear of identification or litigation. As a free service to the industry, MARS reports also regularly comprise alerts condensed from official industry sources, so that issues resulting from recent incidents can be efficiently relayed to the mariner on board. With access to the internet from vessels becoming more affordable, the MARS database is a valuable risk assessment, work planning, loss prevention tool and training aid for crew and management. MARS reports are held in a publicly-accessible database and can be accessed by clicking on the link below: Contact the Editor of MARS at[email protected] |
Above Mars Report is edited from From Marine Safety Forum – Safety Flash 14-29
