NEPTUNO - Very Serious Maritime Casualty
Vessel: NEPTUNO
GAMA reference: 2013-006
Data da ocorrência acidental: 16-01-2013
Circulated on: 10-12-2013
Published on: 13-01-2014
Casualty Event: Body movement without any physical stress (generally leading to an external injury)
Summary
On 16 January 2013, NEPTUNO was hauling its bottom-trawl gear approximately 10 nautical miles west of Leirosa beach. While the starboard trawl door was suspended from the stern gantry and the trawl warp was being disconnected, the third link of the suspension chain failed. The trawl door was released and the slack trawl warp came rapidly under tension, producing a whipping movement. The warp most probably struck a crew member on the head, causing fatal injuries. The damaged chain was repaired aboard so that the fishing gear could be recovered and the vessel could return safely to Figueira da Foz,
Safety recommendations
SR 6-2013.1:
Assess implementing effective procedures and control measures across the fleet to ensure that crew members use the required personal protective equipment. No response status is recorded in the report.
SR 6-2013.2: Assess ensuring that equipment subject to conformity certification, including chains and wires, can be positively matched to the corresponding certificate at the time of purchase and throughout its service life. No response status is recorded in the report.
SR 6-2013.3: Assess the feasibility of establishing a certification and inspection procedure for fishing gear to ensure periodic verification of the safety of its components and operating arrangements. No response status is recorded in the report.
Actions Taken
Following the casualty, the vessel operator replaced the suspension chains on both the port and starboard trawl doors. The replacement chains had links with a diameter of 20 mm, compared with the 16 mm links previously fitted.
Lessons learned
Crew members should remain outside the potential movement and snap-back areas of trawl warps, chains and trawl doors under tension. Suspension chains and other load-bearing components should be periodically inspected, supported by traceable conformity certificates and replaced whenever their condition or identity cannot be verified. Effective use of personal protective equipment should be monitored, although protective equipment does not replace physical separation from hazardous moving components.