During departure operations, a sailor of a 110 m long vessel was hit by a spring line and was fatally injured.
Narrative
En route through the Suez Canal a vessel of 4900 GT experienced a fire in the engine room. The fire could be successfully fought using on board means. The vessel was separated from the convoy and was later turned by two tugs and accompanied during berthing at the emergency station. The repairs took three days, after which the vessel was ready to resume her voyage. She was fast portside alongside 2 / 1 with forward and aft stations standing by when the master ordered to let go forward / aft lines up to the forward spring. Under tug assistance the master turned the vessels stern away from the berth and after sufficient distance ordered the forward to let go spring. The vessels forward spring was very tight at this moment and when it was slacked to release it was caught on the bollard. Through the vessels motion away from the pier the forward spring tightened further and in the moment the 2nd officer slacked the line from the winch to somehow untangle it from the bollard the OS at the bollard was ordered to stay clear. A few seconds later the line part between shore and bollard broke and the part fast on deck whipped over and struck the OS on the head, fatally injuring him.
Findings
The bridge was not informed in the moment the problem with the line became evident and had thus continued the manoeuvre as intended, creating large forces on the line.
The crew was on their maiden voyage on a brand new vessel and preparation for sea in the yard including drills and work familiarisation was apparently not sufficiently executed. The deceased sailor was new to the job and probably not aware of the dangerous situation he was part of.
Recommendation
Deck crew have to be trained constantly to operate safely and develop hazard awareness.
The need of information on the bridge during mooring operations should be made an essential part of the procedures and made clear before every mooring.
Ship managers should set the long term binding of crew as a primary goal, to ensure company safety culture can develop and grow to become a mind-set.