Unsafe method of rope work resulted in severe hand injury
- Safety Flash
- Published on 18 October 2016
- Generated on 28 January 2026
- IMCA SF 28/16
- 1 minute read
The Marine Safety Forum (MSF) has published safety alert number 16-22 regarding an incident in which a crewman suffered serious injuries to three of his fingers during mooring operations.
What happened?
The incident occurred when the crew of the vessel were preparing mooring lines for arrival in port. An Able Seaman was spooling a mooring line from the starboard locker to the starboard tugger winch aft. During this operation, a crow bar slipped and the seaman was forced against the guide roller. He caught his fingers between the crow bar and roller, leading to injuries to three of his fingers, including loss of one joint of a finger.
Side view showing spooling direction of mooring line
Front view showing mooring line travel to the winch and the crow bar position
The MSF safety alert records the following:
- Immediate cause: an unsafe method for spooling line onto the tugger winch.
- Basic causal factors included:
- poor planning: there was no risk assessment conducted before the job, nor was a toolbox talk meeting held
- the seaman performing the work was new on board the vessel.
Members may also wish to refer to Mooring practice safety guidance for offshore vessels when alongside in ports and harbours.
Related Safety Flashes
-
IMCA SF 04/09
2 April 2009
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.