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LTI: Tugger winch incident (MSF)

What happened?

The Marine Safety Forum (MSF) reports an incident involving a platform supply vessel which had completed loading operations and the deck crew were securing the cargo for sea with assistance from the tugger winch. The AB who was operating the tugger winch was well experienced and had carried out this operation many times. The AB stood at the tugger winch with his right foot resting on the winch support plate and started heaving up the wire using the control handle which was located above the winch.

As the winch barrel rotated, the wire securing bar trapped the AB’s foot between the winch support plate and the rotating barrel crushing his foot as it rotated.

Actions to prevent recurrence?

Following the incident, a protective frame was built around the tugger winch to prevent a similar incident from happening again.

  • Could this occur on your vessel?
  • Are your winches and rotating machinery suitably protected?
    This incident was first published as Marine Safety Forum incident 17-01.

Members may wish to refer to the following incidents:

Safety Event

Published: 2 June 2017
Download: IMCA SF 13/17

Relevant life-saving rules:
IMCA Safety Flashes
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