Hong Kong vessel fatal mooring accident: key safety lessons

Eda Zenic -

The Marine Department of the Government of Hong Kong has issued a note 33/2024 about the fatal accident that occurred on a Hong Kong-registered container vessel during mooring operations at Qingdao, China.

During the mooring operation, the third officer (3/O) was stationed on the aft deck, overseeing the final stages of securing the vessel. At this point, only one stern line remained to be tightened. Unfortunately, as the line was being tensioned, it suddenly snapped and struck the third officer in the head, leading to his immediate death. The investigation found that the officer was within the snap-back zone of the mooring line when the incident occurred.

The Marine Department's investigation identified several factors that contributed to the accident. The crew failed to follow the safety guidelines outlined by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the "Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers," and the vessel's own procedures. Specifically, the crew did not properly inspect, maintain, or replace the mooring line before it failed. Additionally, there were shortcomings in the crew's arrangement of the mooring lines and a general lack of safety awareness regarding the risks associated with the snap-back zones of these lines.

The investigation also highlighted that the risk assessment and toolbox meeting conducted before the mooring operation were ineffective, and the training provided to the crew on safe mooring practices was inadequate.

To prevent similar accidents in the future, the Marine Department issued several recommendations. Ship management companies, as well as all masters, officers, and crew members, are urged to:

  1. Strictly adhere to safety guidelines and procedures: This includes regularly inspecting, maintaining, and replacing mooring lines before they fail.
  2. Properly arrange mooring lines: Avoid using short mooring lines and ensure they are laid out correctly during berthing operations.
  3. Increase safety awareness: Crew members must be aware of the risks associated with snap-back zones and take precautions accordingly.
  4. Promote a safe working culture: Ensure good communication among crew members and encourage them to issue timely warnings against unsafe actions.
  5. Provide effective training: Conduct thorough risk assessments, hold toolbox meetings, and teach good working practices to ensure crew members are well-prepared for safe mooring operations.
  6. Ensure compliance: Ship management companies must ensure that all crew members strictly follow safety codes and shipboard procedures, particularly in managing mooring lines and conducting risk assessments.

The Marine Department emphasizes the importance of these lessons to all shipowners, ship managers, ship operators, masters, officers, and crew members to prevent the recurrence of such tragic incidents.