LTI – worker fractured arm during mooring line handling

A mooring rope (weighing 2.9kg per metre) hit a crew person and caused a broken arm. The incident occurred as crew were preparing to unmoor and move a barge. The operation was proceeding as planned when one of the forward mooring station winches in use tripped out. The mooring crew at the forward station informed the Chief Officer about the winch tripping, using UHF.

The mooring crew at the aft mooring station, on hearing this information, decided to stop the barge by adding an additional coil on the bollard. Whilst one of the crew was attempting to coil the rope on the bollard, due to a sudden increase of tension on the line, control of the rope was lost, and the rope hit the worker on the left forearm causing the injury. The injured person received first aid treatment promptly and was subsequently evacuated by helicopter.

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