Winch incident
- Safety Flash
- Published on 1 November 2001
- Generated on 22 January 2026
- IMCA SF 13/01
- 1 minute read
A Member has reported that one of its vessels was trenching, during which time the ship was told to hold present speed with the tow wire payed in at the same time.
What happened?
There was no facility to spool the wire onto the drum accurately – personnel were placed adjacent to the tow wire and operated a valve using a nylon rope. This could have resulted in a serious injury and damage to equipment.
Our Member took the following action:
The company involved has instructed crews that the winch is to be operated remotely and, if feasible, cameras are to be used in hazardous areas. The ship’s speed should also be taken into consideration.
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