Anchor handling incident

  • Safety Flash
  • Published on 1 May 1997
  • Generated on 20 March 2026
  • IMCA SF 03/97
  • 1 minute read

An incident occurred on a vessel which was conducting an anchor handling operation. 

A sudden tensioning and de-tensioning of the tugger wire occurred, probably due to the vessel rising or falling on the swell. The second mate, who had run towards the tugger wire, was hit by the tensioned wire, thrown into the air, landed heavily and was knocked unconscious.

The contractor involved has elected to review their anchor handling operations procedures in the light of this incident. They are also to include an overview of their Safety Management System and place emphasis on risk assessment for each task undertaken in their Safety Induction.

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