Incident involving a crane boom
- Safety Flash
- Published on 2 August 2003
- Generated on 19 November 2025
- IMCA SF 10/03
- 1 minute read
We have received a report of an incident whereby a crane boom fell from an angle of 45° onto its rest.
What happened?
There was no one in the crane at the time of the incident, but one person on the main deck was slightly hurt by the debris as the crane boom fell. The crane suffered significant damage to the boom, luffing winch, brake and hydraulic motor and the potential for serious injury is obvious.
Our member’s investigation noted the following:
No root cause has so far been identified and an investigation is still ongoing. Initial investigations suggest that, although the crane was left parked in a properly parked mode, both winch drum brakes and the safety pawl all stayed off or partially off when the crane was de-energised, when they should all have engaged. Three co-incidental failures seem extremely unusual and investigations are currently centred on whether the hydraulic system could have somehow locked pressure in to keep all the brakes off.
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.