Near-miss: Cable reel deck cargo broke loose

  • Safety Flash
  • Published on 25 June 2012
  • Generated on 15 January 2026
  • IMCA SF 06/12
  • 1 minute read

The Nautical Institute (NI) has published the following safety flash regarding an incident in which a wooden cable reel, weighing about 11 tonnes, broke loose in heavy seas when a chain link parted.

Through swift action on the part of the master and the crew, the reel was secured and was not lost.

The report can be downloaded here.

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IMCA Safety Flashes summarise key safety matters and incidents, allowing lessons to be more easily learnt for the benefit of the entire offshore industry.

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