Dropped object near-miss: ROV wire rope
- Safety Flash
- Published on 2 October 2015
- Generated on 26 December 2024
- IMCA SF 14/15
- 1 minute read
Crew were aligning an ROV to the guide wires on the starboard aft ROV deck of a vessel.
What happened?
While doing this the ROV dome contacted the forward guide wire and it broke free from its termination point on the overhead gantry. This allowed approximately 36m of “2 inch” 6×19 wire rope, weighing 430kg, to fall to the pontoon level and into the water below. The closest worker was approximately 6m away on the ROV deck level and was approximately 9m beneath the gantry tending a tag line while the ROV was being positioned during the incident. The potential severity of this near miss was a fatality.
What went wrong?
- An investigation found that the lack of formalised procedures, reliance on second hand knowledge and the lack of verification on preventative maintenance schemes resulted in the deterioration of equipment, leading to failure.
The corrective actions and recommendations were:
- Use certified guideline wires
- Install secondary retention on all cursor guideline wires
- Create specific maintenance procedures for the use and care of cursor guidelines.
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.