Non-fatal man overboard incident

The incident occurred whilst an Offshore Support Vessel (OSV) was casting off from a barge after completing a delivery of groceries.

Whilst retrieving the forward mooring rope from the sea (which was stuck between the forward Yokohama fender and the barge at the time), the crewman assigned to this activity lost his balance and fell into the sea. He was recovered unharmed.

Our Member’s investigation revealed that:

Before the incident:

• A general tool box talk had been held on board the barge in the morning before the day’s activities – however no task specific tool box talk on mooring and unmooring of vessels was held before the operation.
  
  
• The mooring task was not risk assessed and risk controls were not set up and implemented.
  
  
• The man overboard was:
  
  
  • wearing full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including a life vest
    
    
  • known to be competent at his job and medically fit
    
    
  • known to have attended and participated in several Man Overboard (MOB) drills held on board the barge
    
    
  • in the wrong place (between the space under the railings) while pulling the mooring rope to free it from the fender.

This led to his falling overboard when he lost his balance.

• The mooring rope was:
  
  
  • trapped or entangled on the Yokohama fender which was positioned directly by the fairlead
    
    
  • relatively old and fitted with a bowling eye
    
    
  • subject to further tension owing to swell conditions.
    
    
• The deck surface was not slippery at the time of incident;

The MOB rescue:

• Nearby personnel raised alarm of MOB before throwing a life buoy with a line in the direction of the man overboard.
  
  
• The man overboard pulled himself alongside the vessel (no MOB alarm was sounded from the barge).
  
  
• A small boat was immediately deployed for rescue and the man overboard was recovered after less than five minutes.

After the incident:

• There was no immediate examination of the man overboard by the barge medic, and a drug and alcohol test did not take place immediately after the incident
  
  
• Communication of the incident to the client was not timely.