Fatal fall aboard tanker Marinor

The Accident Investigation Branch of Norway (AIBN) has published incident 17-04 on the fatal fall of a seafarer on board a Norwegian registered tanker. Whilst the vessel was at sea preparing for an inspection, the crew found that one lashing turnbuckle for the free-fall lifeboat had corroded. The chief mate explained to the Able Seaman (AB) who was to carry out the work that the job only involved rust removal and painting of the turnbuckle. No work permit was issued for this maintenance job, since the work would take place at a height of only just over one metre and in an area secured by railings.

The AB who carried out the maintenance work told the bosun that, while carrying out the work, he had observed that the forward hook for the free-fall lifeboat was in need of lubrication and he asked the bosun for help to steady the ladder he had erected in the position of the forward hook in the davit.

When the AB had climbed part of the way up the ladder, it suddenly slipped on the deck without the bosun being able to keep it steady or stop it from slipping. The AB fell along with the ladder and ended up motionless on the deck next to the ladder. He died three hours later from injuries he sustained.

The full report can be found on the Accident Investigation Branch of Norway website.