Crew member injured during mooring operation
- Safety Flash
- Published on 6 July 2026
- Generated on 6 July 2026
- IMCA SF 12/26
- 2 minute read
A crew member used their foot to slow down a running mooring rope, causing them to fall to the deck.
What happened?
A Lost Time Injury (LTI) occurred when a crew member used their foot to slow down a running mooring rope, causing them to fall to the deck. The incident occurred during mooring operation when a crew member stationed on the focsle connected the heaving line to the mooring line’s loop to allow the shore crew to pull the line to shore. As the crew member fed the mooring line through the Panama lead, the line started to run at an uncontrolled speed down into the water. The bosun gave the order to slow the headline to prevent any more line entering the water. The crew member then used their foot to try slow the running headline. This caused the crew member to fall to the deck, resulting in a fractured femur.
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| Position of mooring team at time of event |
What went wrong?
- The headline was released, allowing it to run in an uncontrolled manner.
- The mooring line was not routed through the bollard for controlled payout,
- There were assumptions and expectations across the team, which were not resolved by the Toolbox talk (TBT).
- The injured crew member was experienced but responded instinctively by placing their foot on the line in an attempt to slow it down.
- The presence of morning condensation meant steelwork and ropes were wet and slippery.
What was learned?
- Revision of task plan, risk assessment and company guidance for mooring, anchoring and towing to include:
- instructions on routing lines through bollards prior to feeding through fairlead.
- a “hold point” – stop and check - for the person in charge of the mooring station to confirm the correct routing through bollards prior to sending line ashore.
- specific indication on the control of speed, correct use of bollards/rollers and consideration of environmental conditions when paying out and recovering.
- clear instructions to personnel to prohibit standing on mooring ropes.
Related Safety Flashes
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IMCA SF 08/26
28 April 2026
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