On 18 December 2016, a bosun of the bulk carrier ‘Graig Rotterdam’ fell overboard and into a barge, losing his life. UK MAIB issued an investigation report about the accident.
The incident
On 18 December 2016, the bulk carrier ‘Graig Rotterdam’ was discharging a deck cargo of packaged timber at anchor in Alexandria Port, Egypt.
That day, the bosun, of Chinese nationality, fell overboard and into a barge that was secured alongside after the timber deck cargo stack on which he was standing partially collapsed.
The ship’s crew provided first-aid to the bosun following the accident, but he succumbed to his injuries.
Probable cause
According to UK MAIB, poor stevedoring practices probably contributed to the unsecured cargo stack collapsing and no measures were in place to prevent the bosun from falling overboard.
Furthermore, after the removal of the deck cargo lashings, the cargo packages had insufficient racking strength to counter the effects of ship movement, cargo repositioning and cargo discharge operations over a prolonged period.
UK MAIB empasizes that, poor stevedoring practices had previously been witnessed by the ship’s crew, but were not discussed and so they were allowed to continue.
Recommendations
UK MAIB recommended Graig Ship Management Limited to reinforce and modify its Safety Management System with respect to the carriage of timber cargoes in order to ensure:
- A lifeline or other means for attaching a safety harness is available to counter the risk of ship’s crew or shore stevedores falling from the top of a deck cargo stack or as a result of a deck cargo stack collapse,
- Where possible, appoint a master or chief officer with experience of the cargo type being carried,
- Ship’s crew proactively engage with shore stevedores for the purpose of maintaining a safe system of work during cargo operations
Additionally, Norlat Shipping Limited has been recommended, by UK MAIB to ensure that all cargo information, as required by the IMO’s ‘Code of Safe Practice for Ships Carrying Timber Deck Cargoes’, is provided to the master or his representative before loading cargo for all ships that it charters to carry timber deck cargo.
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