Importance of safety by design: Acoustic beacon damage in splash zone
- Safety Flash
- Published on 9 December 2021
- Generated on 23 July 2026
- IMCA SF 34/21
- 1 minute read
During recovery of tugger winches on an A-frame workstation, the headache ball experienced normal movement when exiting the splash zone.
What happened?
In this instance, the headache ball came into contact with the vessel fender and damaged an acoustic beacon.
The damaged beacon was taken out of service and repair arranged.
Location of fender in relation to beacon on the headache ball
A-frame workstation
What went wrong?
- The damage occurred with normal perpendicular movement of the headache ball as it went through the splash zone.
- The A-frame, due to its height, did not allow the outboarding of a load far enough away from the vessel hull.
- This was a known hazard associated with vessel design; however, team onboard had previously worked around the problem during equipment overboarding and recovery.
Actions
- Design and install a protective cage for the acoustic beacon.
- Undertake a full design review with a focus on the Tooling Skid and associated tasks and systems, and also a review of the design of the A-Frame.
- A-frame design modifications implemented, to extend the reach and keep the load away from vessel hull during overboarding and recovery.
Related Safety Flashes
-
IMCA SF 23/21
19 August 2021
-
IMCA SF 07/21
4 March 2021
-
IMCA SF 03/21
19 January 2021
-
IMCA Safety Flashes summarise key safety matters and incidents, allowing lessons to be more easily learnt for the benefit of the entire offshore industry.
The effectiveness of the IMCA Safety Flash system depends on the industry sharing information and so avoiding repeat incidents. Incidents are classified according to IOGP's Life Saving Rules.
All information is anonymised or sanitised, as appropriate, and warnings for graphic content included where possible.
IMCA makes every effort to ensure both the accuracy and reliability of the information shared, but is not be liable for any guidance and/or recommendation and/or statement herein contained.
The information contained in this document does not fulfil or replace any individual's or Member's legal, regulatory or other duties or obligations in respect of their operations. Individuals and Members remain solely responsible for the safe, lawful and proper conduct of their operations.
Share your safety incidents with IMCA online. Sign-up to receive Safety Flashes straight to your email.