Incident as a result of failure of a bollard
- Safety Flash
- Published on 2 October 2001
- Generated on 22 February 2025
- IMCA SF 12/01
- 2 minute read
A member has reported the following incident.
What happened?
A cargo barge loaded with 525 tons was moored to a pipelay barge, when one of the bollards on the cargo barge broke and was pulled away on the pipelay barge’s deck by the mooring rope. The bollard first hit the lay barge hand rail and then bounced on the deck, where the rigging team leader was working on another operation, approximately 10 m from the cargo barge. The bollard broke his helmet and caused serious injury to the right side of the front of his head.
The weather conditions at the time were: wind 34 knots, waves 1.5m. Propylene rope of 64 mm diameter, maximum tensile strength (MTS) 46 tons, was being used on the bollard. The rope did not break, but the 8″ diameter 400 mm high bollard broke close to the weld on the deck at ~15 mm.
The following corrective actions have been taken to avoid recurrence of the incident:
- Reassess the scenario of mooring cargo barge to the lay barge when the weather conditions are bad. No vessel or cargo barges should be moored alongside the lay barge when wind speeds exceed 25 knots.
- Physical inspection of bollards. On investigation, the steel quality of the bollard in the weld area was questioned. A qualified third party was to inspect the other bollards for evidence of fatigue and steel hardening.
IMCA Safety Flashes summarise key safety matters and incidents, allowing lessons to be more easily learnt for the benefit of the entire offshore industry.
The effectiveness of the IMCA Safety Flash system depends on the industry sharing information and so avoiding repeat incidents. Incidents are classified according to IOGP's Life Saving Rules.
All information is anonymised or sanitised, as appropriate, and warnings for graphic content included where possible.
IMCA makes every effort to ensure both the accuracy and reliability of the information shared, but is not be liable for any guidance and/or recommendation and/or statement herein contained.
The information contained in this document does not fulfil or replace any individual's or Member's legal, regulatory or other duties or obligations in respect of their operations. Individuals and Members remain solely responsible for the safe, lawful and proper conduct of their operations.
Share your safety incidents with IMCA online. Sign-up to receive Safety Flashes straight to your email.