After arrival at the discharge port, the ship’s crew were using the stores crane to deploy the gangway. 

The operation involved lifting the gangway down from its stowage position to the main deck, disconnecting the crane, pushing the gangway under the boom conveyor, then re-connecting to the crane to lift outboard.

When raising the empty crane hook, to re-position the crane and re-connect the gangway, the crane wire parted, causing the crane hook to fall to the deck.

KEY FINDINGS

• When the crane wire was being hoisted, the winch stalled unexpectedly.  The crew member lowered the hook briefly, then re-tried hoisting, when the wire parted.
• The crane wire had been fitted in 2020, and regularly maintained and inspected by the crew.  The last inspection by the lifting gear contractor was in August 2021.
• The crane wire had not been overloaded.
• The investigation indicates that the crane wire may have been allowed to become slack at some time previously, leading to a riding turn on the drum.
• Good safety practices on board, and a high level of safety awareness of the crew meant no-one was under the hook as it fell.

HOW COULD THIS HAVE BEEN AVOIDED?

• Lifting operations supervised by competent / authorised persons.
• Robust inspection and maintenance schemes.
• Reporting of any defects, near misses or hazards.
• Maintain exclusion zones around any lifting operations and suspended loads, including crane components.

KEY REVIEW POINTS

• Everyone knows the importance of remaining clear of suspended loads, but a falling empty crane hook could also cause injury to someone stood below.
• When machinery or equipment stops unexpectedly, it should be checked over prior to re-starting.  Machinery doesn’t stop for no reason, even if the reason is not immediately obvious to the operator.
• Never walk under suspended loads, including crane hooks themselves and always ensure suitable exclusion zones around lifting operations