Monthly Safety Scenario

May 2016

Hurt by twist lock from a container

The container vessel was berthed port side
alongside at an Asian port and the cargo
operation had started shortly after arrival.
The weather was good, clear and calm.

The Chief Officer was in charge of the cargo

operation. The 2nd and 3rd officers were working 6-on 6-off watches, one AB assisted in the
cargo operation and another AB had ISPS duty
on the gangway.
The loading plan was presented to the
Chief Officer by the terminal supervisor and
two gantry cranes were planned to assist. The
chief officer presented the lashing plan to the
terminal supervisor.
During the operation, stevedores working at
the front and end of the container fitted twist
locks to the containers corners before it was
loaded onboard the vessel. When in position
the crane operator adjusted the alignment
before lowering the container into position.
The twist locks automatically locked onto the
container below.
Onboard the vessel two stevedores were
attaching lashings to containers and were
standing underneath the containers as they
were being loaded.
At the same time as the 2nd and 3rd officer
did the handover of the cargo watch, they heard
a scream. The officers could see a stevedore
lying on one of the hatch covers. They quickly
gave the injured stevedore first aid and raised
the alarm.

Monthly Safety Scenario

The 2nd officer ran to the ships hospital and

picked up a stretcher and the master informed
the terminal about the accident.
The stevedore was conscious and had a
gash on his head. Lying close to him was a
twist lock and his safety helmet which was not
broken but had scratch marks on it.
About ten minutes later the terminals own
emergency response team arrived and gave
the stevedore first aid while waiting for an ambulance which arrived shortly afterwards. The
stevedore was taken to hospital.
A missing twist lock could be seen from
the container which the stevedores had been
underneath.
Consequences
The twist lock had dropped from a height
of about eight meters. The twist lock had
not been properly fitted by the stevedores
working shoreside. This caused the twist
lock to dislodge from its corner fitting and
fall onto the stevedore.

Discussion
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1. What were the immediate causes of this accident?

2. Is there a risk that this kind of accident could happen on our vessel?

3. What is the duty officer supposed to do if crew or stevedores are standing under moving cargo?

4. What are the procedures during a cargo operation and when standing close to moving cargo?

Monthly Safety Scenario

5. What PPE is required during a cargo operation?

6. Are cargo gear and obstacles removed during a cargo operation?

7. Does the Chief Officer discuss the cargo operation with the stevedores before the operation
begins?

8. If yes are safety issues discussed?

9. Do we have a risk assessment onboard that addresses these risks?

Monthly Safety Scenario

10. Is the required PPE included in our work permits and risk assessments?

11. How could this accident have been prevented?

12. What sections of our SMS would have been breached if any

13. If procedures were breached why do you think this was the case?

14. What do you think was the root cause of this accident?

Monthly Safety Scenario