Unsafe boarding during unmooring operation

  • Safety Flash
  • Published on 6 December 2019
  • Generated on 14 June 2025
  • IMCA SF 28/19
  • 2 minute read

A vessel was departing from port when crew found it necessary to remove the mooring lines from the shoreside bollards with no safe un-boarding/boarding arrangements in place – instead clambering over the side (CCTV capture shown below).

What happened?

 A standard unmooring process (using shore-based support) had been discussed with the team involved during the pre-task briefing/toolbox talk.

The mooring lines were not recovered quickly enough, resulting in an entanglement into a stern thruster.

What went wrong?

  • Failure to follow company operating procedures and internal HSSE rules.

  • Ineffective assessment of risks before starting work.

  • Failure to effectively recognise and manage the safety risks associated with the change to the planned activity (failure to manage change).

  • No-one stopped the job (stop work authority).

What actions were taken?

  • The fouled mooring line was removed/cleared from the thruster.

  • Reinforcement and raising awareness of:

    • existing company rules on safety including the obligation of all employees to ‘speak up/step in’ if they see an unsafe act and/or condition

    • the importance of dynamic risk assessment and management of change (MoC)

    • the relevant sections of Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers (COSWP)

    • fleet level risk assessment and management procedures

    • fleet level vessel mooring/unmooring procedures.

  • There was a visit by senior management and discussion with the team involved.

What lessons were learned?

  • Vessel crew should not act as linesmen for their own vessel.

  • Contingency plans should be developed in advance for this type of routine activity.

  • Changes to any activity should be effectively risk assessed and managed using the MoC process.

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