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Non-routine lift leads to thruster incapacity – DP undesired event

Comments:

The vessel maintained position throughout.  The lift had not been properly planned or risk assessed for the object being lifted.  There was a failure to recognise that the mattress was not a routine lift.  A generic lift plan was used which did not cover this specific lift.

Considerations from the above event:

  • Danger of recognising an operation as routine, when it isn’t, and therefore using inappropriate standard procedures and risk assessments;
  • A situational awareness of the whole operation, involving all departments, is required;
  • Was there pressure to perform the task on an inappropriate vessel heading?
  • One thruster was on standby – if the lift had been identified as non-standard then possibly all thrusters would have been online;
  • DP red alert was used by the DP operator (DPO), although redundancy had not been compromised.  It is unknown whether this was in line with the activity specific operating guidelines (ASOG), however the DPO considered that the event had potential to escalate and therefore decided to initiate red alert.

DP Event

Published: 29 November 2016
Download: IMCA DPE 04/16

Classification:
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The following case studies and observations have been compiled from information received by IMCA. All vessel, client, and operational data has been removed from the narrative to ensure anonymity.

Case studies are not intended as guidance on the safe conduct of operations, but rather to assist vessel managers, DP operators and DP technical crew in appropriately determining how to safely conduct their own operations. Any queries should be directed to IMCA at dpreports@imca-int.com. Members and non-members alike are welcome to contact IMCA if they have experienced DP events which can be shared anonymously with the DP industry.

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