Page 13 - CHIRP annual digest 2016.pdf

CHIRPAnnual Digest 2016

practice to use double clip-on harnesses, so there is back. If line marking is to be of any benefit at all, it would
always one attached line when relocating the other (See be a single line on the deck marking entry into a mooring
advice in Maritime FEEDBACK 39 page 5), then if worn area in its totality. This would be both simple and effective.
correctly there should be no possibility of falling into the If standing or working within the total mooring area, ANY
water. mooring line failure can and will kill you!
The above article was published in MFB 40
So how do we go forward from this? We need to presume
Article. 09 the danger to seamen of a mooring line failing under
Advisory Board Insight: A Step Away tension will always exist and accept that a tensioned line
from the ‘Snap-Back Zone’ is always at risk of parting. The danger will never go away,
so where the person is standing when the inevitable occurs
The “Snap Back Zone” concept of a dangerous area of must be the principal focus. In time, we continue to hope
whiplash from a parting mooring rope has been that engineering, design and the progress of the lessons
enthusiastically embraced since its first mention. It is a learned will reduce the number of failures but we must
catchy phrase that without doubt says it all and was psychologically accept that very few positions within a
immediately recognised by experienced seamen as a mooring area are comparatively safe.
worthy means of highlighting this great risk to our teams
and especially to younger seaman coming into the Let us make a few key assumptions with which there may
industry. Arguably, mooring ships is the most dangerous be general agreement:
procedure seafarers do and this phrase captures just why ■ The manning level for any mooring tensioning
this is so. operation must be sufficient, with the operators
competent to execute the work. This is a challenge in
However, those of us who enthusiastically embraced this itself, especially in windy or tidal conditions, which
concept of risk now have cause for reflection: Snap back
give rise to rapid tensioning of ropes. This assessment
zone injuries continue. We may embrace modern mooring of risk should be the subject of a bottom to top review
rope construction, design of systems, addition of tails and
from seamen to ship owners and Flag State
every worthy means to engineer a technical solution to Authorities. Minimum manning is just that and only
provide enhanced safety. However experience tells us
that and is often relevant on a good day only.
mooring ropes will always part and the danger will always
■ The winch operator is generally in the safest position,
be present. So, is the snap back zone concept working?
providing he focuses on that job alone and does not
Particularly pertinent to our snap back zone dilemma has stray from that position from start to finish of the
been our belief from the outset that highlighting these tensioning operation. Design in recent years has seen
dangerous areas, by whatever means of painting lines, some improvements in this area, with winch controls
cordoning off areas and embracing a “full song and dance often not being in line with a mooring rope, with
act” to raise the profile of the danger, may well have been vision often restricted by the machinery itself. Clearly
worthy but misguided. Those of us who went down the this is an advantage to avoiding the whiplash.
painting lines route, well know the permutations of leads However, the person in charge must have a clear
from any winch drum for either side of the vessel, the vision of the winch operator.
crossovers of each and the complexity of different port ■ The future design of mooring stations must pro -
requirements. This has meant that the painted lines rapidly actively aim to reduce ships crew’s exposure to risk.
resemble a jumbled “Christmas tree” of warning areas. ■ Conduct effective briefings through interactive tool
Painted highlighting of hazards as a warning does have its box talks with the mooring party and ensure all know
place: For example, the highlighted yellow/white painting the intent and plan in respect of that particular
of tripping hazards on the deck, or snagging equipment mooring operation.
projections, which are especially important at night where ■ It is essential that there are proper agreed com -
even good deck lighting does not fully overcome the visual munications between the officer, or person in charge,
depth of field limitations of the human eye. However, for the winch operator and any intermediate relay signaller
snap back zones, highlighting potential danger areas has if required (this level of manning is a necessity) by
actually encouraged over confidence that outside that area clearly visible hand signals or radio communications.
will be safe. Clearly ANY location within the mooring area ■ The officer, or person in charge, must at all times be
MUST be treated as being in danger of a mooring rope snap in a position such that he has line of sight to the

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