Damage and personal injury arising from heavy weather

On a vessel waiting on weather, a weathertight door in the crane pedestal from the main deck to the crane room was forced open by a large wave coming from a different direction than the prevailing wind and sea. During operations to close the weathertight door, a vessel crew member was hit by water gushing through the door, and was washed down two flights of stairs within the crane pedestal, causing serious injuries.

The crew member was taken into the vessel hospital to be assessed by the medical team offshore in communication with the onshore medical advisory service. The vessel sailed into port for assessment by the hospital and thereafter the crew member was airlifted to another hospital for specialist trauma support as an additional precaution.

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