A UK marine aggregate dredger was departing a Thames river wharf at 05:30 on the ebb tide, the aft spring was the last line to let go.

The Bosun, working alone on the poop deck mooring station slacked off the aft spring and shouted to the linesman to let go the aft spring - after moving to the poop deck port side into view of the linesman and after being visually signalled by the linesman that the rope had been lifted off the mooring bollard the Bosun moved back to the mooring winch, out of view of the linesman, and commenced heaving the rope inboard.

After taking the eye of the mooring rope off the bollard the linesman continued to hold onto the tail of the mooring rope eye in order to allow the slack to be taken up by the winch to prevent the rope falling loose and the eye becoming snagged on obstructions on the jetty face.

Whilst the linesman was still holding the tail of the mooring rope eye, the eye caught on a protruding jetty handrail as the mooring rope was being heaved in. The Bosun, still heaving the mooring rope was unable to see from the winch position that the eye was caught and continued to heave the rope. The linesman, unable to alert the Bosun to the caught rope continued to hold the tail of the mooring rope which, caught on the protruding handrails, then pulled the handrail stanchion off its mounting, freeing the rope. The linesman, still holding the tail of the rope as the rope was freed from being caught on the handrails was dragged and stumbled towards the edge of the jetty until he let go of the tail just short of the jetty edge.

The incident was viewed from the bridge by the Master and the pilot who were immediately able to verify that the linesman was uninjured.

• The jetty owner should immediately conduct a formal risk assessment of the mooring operation as it exists with the damaged handrails and other hazards which may affect personnel involved in the vessel’s mooring operation. The damaged handrails and other obstructions should be repaired or removed as soon as possible.


• The linesman was inexperienced having only been employed for 12 months and receiving on the job training from other linesmen. It is the responsibility of the providing organisation to ensure that linesmen contracted by them are competent to do the task safely. The providing organisation should assess if the linesman involved in this incident requires further training or supervision.


• The Master and Safety Officer have instigated a requirement for there to be two persons aft for letting go from any berth