MSF: Potential dropped object

  • Safety Flash
  • Published on 16 June 2021
  • Generated on 26 April 2026
  • IMCA SF 17/21
  • 1 minute read

The Marine Safety Forum (MSF) has published Safety Alert 21-08 relating to a potential dropped object which was found during lifting operations between a vessel and a platform.

What happened?

A metal plate of size 25 x 17 x 6 cm, weighing 1.6 kg, was found inside a forklift pocket hole on a 10′ container when the container was landed onto a platform from a vessel. 

The MSF noted that the size and weight of the plate meant that this potential dropped object could have been life-threatening had it hit someone.

MSF: Potential dropped object

What went wrong?

The MSF noted that “one of the possible reasons that this particular plate may have been washed from its position within the main deck could have been that it was quite badly buckled or bent. This could have enabled water breaking onto the vessel’s main deck, to work beneath the plate to lift it.”

Actions

Check pin post/lifting point plates, to ensure that they:

  • are not buckled

  • fit correctly

  • can be secured appropriately.

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