IMCA: LTI – crew member squeezed between buoy and cargo rail

During anchor handling operations, a crew member was crushed between a large buoy and a cargo rail. The crew member was freed and had to be med-evaced. The incident occurred when the deck crew was in the process of connecting two 5 ton sub-surface buoys to a chain adapter as part of a multi-step hookup sequence. After securing an 800m fibre rope in the shark jaw, the team began preparing the buoys for connection. The first buoy had already been positioned using the starboard crane. The second buoy was then dragged toward the connection point using the port crane, while the buoys remained partly interconnected through their stock eyes. 

Because the buoys had been stored in pairs, one lashing between the buoys and the cargo rail had not been removed. The remaining lashing created a slight lift on the buoy as it was dragged, storing tension in the system. This was noticed, and the operation was stopped.

One crew member entered the narrow space between the buoy and the cargo rail to reach the ratchet handle and release the strap. As the lashing was opened, the built-up energy caused the buoy to spring back to its resting position. The buoy moved suddenly and forcefully, trapping the crew member against the cargo rail.

 The deck crew attempted first to move the buoy with the crane, then switched to using a tugger line on the aft capstan, successfully freeing the injured person. Medical personnel arrived promptly, and the crew member was evacuated by helicopter after initial stabilization on board.

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