Transport Malta has issued safety investigation report on incident on board the Maltese registered bulk carrier CY Thunder in which an able seaman (AB) fell into the sea while rigging a combination pilot ladder, while the vessels was underway to embark a harbour pilot for Port Sudan.
According to Transport Malta report, post-accident inspection indicated that the gangway’s platform was unrestrained and swinging with the motion of the vessel. At the time of the accident, the AB was alone and none of the crew members witnessed the events.
It is likely that the AB lost his balance, fell into the water because he was not wearing a fall preventer device, and drowned because he had no lifejacket on.
The safety investigation was unable to confirm whether or not fatigue was a contributing factor to the accident. However, the evidence did not indicate that the behaviour manifested by the crew member was suggestive of fatigue issues.
The investigation also concludes the following:
- The AB may have overestimated the extent to which he could control the risky situation
- The safety management system had no safe working procedures to mitigate the hazards that were inherent in the rigging of the combination pilot ladder over the ship’s side
- No risk assessment or toolbox meeting had been conducted before the task was initiated.
- There was no teamwork dynamics manifested between the team members – to the extent that the combination pilot ladder was being rigged without having the necessary safety barrier systems first installed.
- By the time the lifebuoy was released by the master and the reciprocal course completed, significant distance had been covered and time had elapsed, presenting an enormous task for the crew members to locate the missing AB.
- The crew’s actions suggested that there was a lack of exposure to realistic man overboard drills.
- A Williamson turn would have been more appropriate than the Anderson turn manoeuvre that was initiated and completed.
Further details may be found by reading the report
Source: Transport Malta
