DERRICK ACCIDENT CAUSES FATALITY

A new ship was discharging steel plates with own cargo gear. While the derrick was lifting two steel plates slung together, the topping lift wire broke, and the plates fell. One stevedore was killed at the scene and three others were badly injured. The accident was attributed to a seizure of the centre pulley bearing, causing wear and breakage of the lifting wire due to contact with the pulley sheave. The shipowner had established a programme of routine maintenance, which the crew should have performed under the supervision of the chief officer. It would appear that this […]