Serious incidents involving the weather
- Safety Flash
- Published on 12 June 2020
- Generated on 23 February 2026
- IMCA SF 18/20
- 2 minute read
A member has published a safety notice designed to raise awareness with the number of serious weather related incidents which have occurred within their fleet over the last few months. The aim is to highlight:
- the impact of weather on vessel operations and equipment
- the importance of effective review of weather reports
- the importance of thorough dropped objects inspections
- measures to prevent similar incidents.
image courtesy of Wikipedia
A number of events are mentioned, some of which have been published as part of IMCA Safety Flashes:
- Dropped lightning conductor – dropped because of vibration and environmental conditions over some time
- Dropped gangway – gusts of strong and violent wind (>50 knots) caused the vessel to move off the quay
- Dropped objects (multiple objects from salt sack) – load was caught by 30 knot winds
- Failed Quayside Bollard. Minor damage to vessel hull – wind increased to 61 knots and bollard failed
- Dropped object – object fell during or after storm with >50 knot winds.
Our Member notes:
- Although the findings of the incidents differ, they all have one common casual factor – adverse weather and strong winds.
- All these incidents had the potential to cause a serious injury or fatality.
What lessons were learned?
- Effects of weather and its unpredictability were not fully understood or considered.
- Inappropriate assessment of weather effects on tasks and operations undertaken.
- The environment can have immediate and long-term effects on equipment, objects, securing and secondary retention.
Actions
- The importance of in-depth weather report review and including weather in all your toolbox talk (TBT). It may introduce risks to the job or create a hazardous working environment.
- The importance of considering the effect of weather on all your activities, equipment and potential dropped objects.
- Continuous monitoring of the weather and immediate communication of any changes to all who may be affected.
- Guard against complacency with routine tasks and always be vigilant.
- Conducting thorough ‘routine drops inspections’ especially prior to severe weather and after environmental events.
Related Safety Flashes
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IMCA SF 16/19
5 July 2019
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IMCA SF 07/19
18 April 2019
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IMCA SF 32/16
29 November 2016
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IMCA SF 02/07
12 March 2007
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