Setting
Port and Quayside
Physical location in a port, harbour or quayside area.
Newest 100 Documents
All 469 in search- 202615 Jul
Allision of the rigid inflatable boat Peaky Blinder with a navigation beacon with the loss of 2 lives
Investigation of Peaky Blinder’s fatal allision with a navigation beacon in Portsmouth Harbour examines excessive speed, ineffective lookout and alcohol-related impairment. It discusses absent personal flotation devices, recreational boating alcohol regulation and harbour speed enforcement, with recommendations addressing statutory alcohol limits, public awareness and adherence to speed restrictions.
- 202628 Apr
Heaving line snap-back causes injury
A tensioned heaving line broke during berthing, causing quayside workers to fall. One suffered a head impact after an unsecured helmet chin strap allowed the helmet to shift. The flash identifies missing inspections, congestion and inadequate supervision, and recommends line checks, safer positioning and stopping unsafe work.
- 202626 Mar
Fatal accident to a crew member on board the roll-on/roll-off cargo vessel Laureline
Investigates a crew member’s fatal crushing between a reversing trailer and Laureline’s structure during cargo operations at Purfleet. CCTV review and scene inspection informed analysis of driver–crew communication, danger-zone definitions, training and supervision. The report examines procedural weaknesses, subsequent safety actions and recommendations for an industry vehicle-deck code of practice.
- 202617 Mar
Unsafe handling of gas cylinders
A Chief Mate identified unsecured compressed gas cylinders on the quayside before planned gas cutting and welding during vessel maintenance. The flash discusses contractor awareness, perceived time pressure and unavailable securing arrangements, highlighting approved racks, restraint, contractor coordination and crew confidence to stop unsafe work.
- 202613 Feb
Fall from height during mooring due to rope tension reaction
A tanker’s propeller caught a mooring rope, loading a jetty dolphin platform until the line parted. The platform recoiled and a kneeling worker fell onto a lower platform about 1.8 metres below, sustaining minor scratches. The flash examines barrier design, body positioning, communication and keeping clear of tensioned lines.
- 202612 Feb
Girting and capsize of tug Biter with the loss of two lives while assisting passenger vessel Hebridean Princess
Investigation of Biter’s fatal girting and capsize while assisting Hebridean Princess on the River Clyde. It examines towing speed, bridle loading, gob-rope securing, watertight integrity, operational exchanges and training. The precise reason for gob-rope rendering remained unresolved; post-salvage testing found the towing-hook release mechanism functional.
- 202622 Jan
Mechanic got burns due to fire in portable generator
A marine mechanic sustained minor right-arm burns after spilled petrol ignited during portable-generator refuelling at a dock workshop. Dragging the generator produced a friction spark. The flash identifies missing rubber bushings, absent procedures and risk assessment, inadequate maintenance and housekeeping, and difficult access to fire extinguishers.
- 202612 Jan
LTI – back injury
An Able Seaman suffered a lower-back injury while lowering a crew transfer vessel’s gangway onto the quay. The flash examines lone manual handling, crane-position constraints, uncertain gangway weight and inadequate procedural risk controls. Lessons include ideally using two people when mechanical aids cannot be used, reviewing assessments and verifying gangway weights.
- 2026
CHIRP Maritime FEEDBACK 82 (Spring 2026)
Maritime reports examine solvent use in bilges, navigation audit findings, refused fuel-tank entry, twin-lanyard misuse and obstructed pilot access. Further cases address partial power loss linked to an unannounced software update and pressure over navigation decisions. Commentary emphasises equipment limitations, safe attachment, supplier communication and supportive bridge leadership.
- 202518 Dec
Man overboard in port: Seaman falls from quay access ladder
A seaman climbing a damaged quay access ladder became distracted by moving mooring lines, lost balance and fell onto the gunwale before entering the water. Recovery was achieved without serious injury. The flash highlights continued use of defective access, concentration, stop-work intervention and consideration of quayside conditions in task planning.
- 202517 Nov
Stay in the right place – the importance of personal positioning
Two events illustrate unsafe personal positioning: a seafarer approached a deck edge during berthing to improve visibility, and workers pushed a suspended load during lifting alongside. The flash discusses communication, barriers, hands-free lifting tools, keeping outside load impact zones, clear decks and stopping unsafe work.
- 20257 Nov
Smoke in the battery room
A vessel alongside experienced smoke from overheated nickel-cadmium batteries supplying a DP-system UPS. Crews isolated circuits and removed batteries for cooling, without injury or escalation. The flash examines uncertain causes, restricted cabinet access and incomplete records, highlighting battery inventories, detection, emergency training and installation improvements.
- 2025Nov
CHIRP Maritime FEEDBACK 81
Six confidential maritime reports examine a pilot’s fall, unsafe ladder rigging, illegal waste disposal, congested harbour operations involving an uncrewed vessel, a yacht–ferry close-quarters encounter and management intimidation. Commentary discusses transfer procedures, collision avoidance, competence assurance, reporting protections and the influence of leadership on safety and environmental compliance.
- 202527 Oct
Japan Transport Safety Board: two confined space fatalities
An IMCA flash summarises a Japanese bulk-carrier incident in which two stevedores collapsed during unloading; one died and one was seriously injured. Low oxygen and elevated carbon dioxide were likely linked to palm kernel shell fermentation. It highlights absent atmospheric testing, inadequate work controls and recommendations for training and cargo risk profiling.
- 20252 Oct
Worker suffered eye injuries in electric arc incident
A vessel electro-technical officer suffered light eye burns from an electrical arc while disconnecting a shore power cable that appeared still energised. Initial findings identified inadequate vessel–quayside communication and documentation. The flash emphasises voltage testing, isolation, improved communication, risk assessments and toolbox talks.
- 202525 Sep
Collision between the tender to Isabell Princess of the Sea and the RIB Vega, resulting in one fatality
Investigation of a fatal collision between a yacht tender and the drifting RIB Vega in Göcek harbour. It examines unsafe speed, night visibility, unused chart-plotter information, possible alcohol impairment and unclear command authority. The passenger died from collision injuries and drowning; subsequent actions addressed tender operations, authority and navigation-light compliance.
- 202518 Sep
Auxiliary engine room fire on board the ro-ro cargo ship Finnmaster
Investigation of Finnmaster’s auxiliary engine room fire during departure from Hull. Partial fuel injection pump coupling failure and leaking hot exhaust preceded fuel hose failure and ignition. The report examines defective emergency power, incomplete carbon dioxide suppression, maintenance and supplier assurance, system testing and crew response. No injuries were reported.
- 202521 Aug
Serious injury to a passenger on the sea safari rigid inflatable boat Lundy Explorer
Investigates a passenger’s permanent spinal injury during wave-induced slamming aboard Lundy Explorer at Ilfracombe. Examines forward jockey seating, passenger bracing, safety briefings, sea-condition decisions and regulatory gaps. Records restrictions on forward-seat use and recommends improved operating procedures and risk assessments within a safety management system.
- 202518 Jun
NTSB: Vessel crane contact with shore-side crane
This safety flash summarises an NTSB investigation into a crane barge contacting a dockside crane while being pushed at North Charleston Terminal. The probable cause was failure to identify the overhead hazard. Lessons highlight projecting dockside cranes, vessel air draft and bridge crews’ knowledge of vessel dimensions.
- 202516 May
MSF: Multiple LTIs - Vessel gangway fell from quay causing injuries
Five workers were injured when a container vessel’s gangway moved off the quay; one fell into the water. Tidal movement had positioned the gangway partly over a ladder void. The flash identifies absent supervision, slack hoist wires and faded markings, and presents suggestions on positioning, procedures, checks, signage and correct PPE use.
- 2025Apr
CHIRP Superyacht FEEDBACK 9 (April 2025)
This superyacht incident digest examines a post-dry-dock fire, unsuitable crew accommodation during repairs, drug use, inadequate provision for working aloft, a falling crane hook, fatigued anchoring and unrecognised enclosed spaces. Commentary addresses safety culture, equipment readiness, familiarisation, design feedback and atmospheric testing.
- 202526 Feb
Contact with pier by paddle steamer Waverley
Investigation of Waverley’s contact with Brodick pier on 3 September 2020, injuring 24 passengers and crew. Engine dead centre delayed astern propulsion. The report examines piston valve securing, lost engineering expertise, informal training and unassessed closed-end berthing risks. It records subsequent maintenance and operational changes, with no recommendations made.
- 20256 Feb
MAIB: Parted mooring rope leads to fatality
A deck officer suffered fatal head injuries when a mooring line parted during strong winds alongside a container vessel. Released tension lifted a bight aboard, rather than snapping the rope end onto the forecastle. The flash discusses snap-back zones, possible arrestors and a campaign encouraging crew to challenge unsafe positioning.
- 202523 Jan
Accident to chief engineer on board motor yacht Baton Rouge with loss of 1 life
Investigation of a chief engineer’s fatal electrocution during ventilation damper actuator replacement aboard Baton Rouge in Antigua. It examines work on a live circuit, unused permit arrangements, heat, inadequate monitoring and rescue planning, and conflicting enclosed-space definitions. Management revised its procedures; the report makes no recommendations.
- 2025
CHIRP Maritime FEEDBACK 78 (Spring 2025)
This maritime digest examines pilot-ladder deficiencies, a caustic eye injury, unacceptable accommodation, charcoal cargo fire, corroded walkways, yacht fire, disabled carbon dioxide firefighting and rescue-craft capsize. Commentary emphasises time for post-maintenance checks, equipment handovers, crew training and risk assessment, alongside protective equipment and seafarers’ rights.
- 2025
CHIRP Maritime FEEDBACK 79 (Summer 2025)
Six confidential maritime reports examine heavy-weather fatalities, navigational audit findings, lifting entanglement, a pilot boarding fall, obstructed firefighting equipment and exposure to residual acid fumes. Commentary connects operational shortcomings with communication, supervision and safety culture, with separate lessons for seafarers, ship managers and regulators.
- 2025
MAIB Safety Digest 1/2025
A marine safety digest examining merchant, fishing and recreational vessel casualties, including collisions, groundings, fires, capsizes and people entering the water. Case lessons address navigation, mooring, towage, maintenance and emergency preparedness, with detailed discussion of flotation-device entanglement, battery charging, fuel hoses and vessel modifications. Reproduced bulletins and flyers provide further incident-specific learning.
- 202421 Nov
Mooring deck accident on bulk carrier Mona Manx with loss of 1 life
Investigation into a fatal mooring accident aboard Mona Manx at Puerto Ventanas, Chile. An entrapped spring line released under tension during an engine-powered astern manoeuvre and recoiled upwards, striking the second officer. The report examines procedural gaps, omitted entrapment risks, safe positioning and communication, and records subsequent safety actions.
- 20247 Nov
Crush incident on board ro-ro cargo vessel Clipper Pennant with loss of 1 life
Investigates the fatal crushing of a bosun during semi-trailer loading aboard Clipper Pennant in Liverpool. Reconstructions examined restricted driver visibility and trailer positioning. Analysis addresses unsafe corner-stowage workarounds, a walkway inside the vehicle lane, conflicting duties, inadequate risk assessments and ineffective incident learning, with recommendations for coordinated vehicle-deck procedures and driver standards.
- 202425 Sep
UK HSE: fall from height injury at container port
A worker undertaking routine maintenance at a container port fell over 10 metres through an opening in a straddle carrier cab, sustaining serious injuries. Contractors had removed the glass floor for replacement. The flash highlights failures in simultaneous-work coordination, risk assessment and implementation of the employer’s working-at-height permit policy.
- 202419 Sep
Injury to person during deck crane operations on board survey and supply vessel Kommandor Orca
This investigation examines a second officer’s leg injury during rail-mounted crane operations aboard Kommandor Orca at Portland. It analyses use of emergency-only local controls, entanglement in unguarded rack and pinion gearing, deficient vessel-specific procedures and training, and overlooked hazards. Company actions included remote operation, revised procedures and additional guarding.
- 202412 Sep
Fall overboard from sail training vessel Pelican of London with loss of 1 life
MAIB investigates a volunteer relief cook’s fatal fall from Pelican of London’s gangway at Sharpness. It examines ineffective guard ropes, a downward-sloping safety net, deficient risk assessment and informal rigging practices. Alcohol impairment and policies for returning from shore are analysed, with recommendations addressing gangway approval, training and alcohol controls.
- 20243 Sep
MAIB: vessel collision caused by mismatch between bridge and engine room control
This flash summarises a collision in Hull involving Kirkella and harbour tug Shovette after propulsion control transferred with mismatched pitch settings. It explains the automatic advance in propeller pitch and presents MAIB lessons on synchronised handover checks, documented changeover procedures, optional interlocks and advisable declutching before transfer.
- 2024Aug
CHIRP Superyacht FEEDBACK 7 (August 2024)
Six superyacht reports examine tender lifting-point failure, fouled anchors near a lee shore, an open shell door, a fall during window cleaning and unsafe diving arrangements. Commentary emphasises thorough risk assessment, properly completed work permits, reliable equipment, crew communication and isolation during underwater maintenance.
- 202431 Jul
Dropped object: unsecured cargo inside box broke lose and fell
A safety flash describes unsecured cargo falling approximately 5 m onto a vessel deck during a quayside lift. A loose hydraulic ram broke its crate and destabilised the pallet assembly. Nobody was injured. Recommendations address cargo securing, competent inspection, trained lifting crews, pallet limitations and wind checks.
- 202418 Jul
Contact with Oikos Jetty 2 by chemical tanker Ali Ka
Investigation of Ali Ka’s contact with Oikos Jetty 2 during departure from Canvey Island without tug assistance. It examines passage planning, bridge-team coordination, propulsion orders, tidal effects and ECDIS settings. Pilot fatigue was assessed as highly likely to have contributed; recommendations address fatigue management, training, tug provision and challenge resolution.
- 202413 Jun
Collision between fishing vessel Kirkella and pusher tug Shovette
Investigation of Kirkella’s collision with Shovette in Hull following propulsion control transfer with mismatched pitch levers. The tug partially sank and released about 7,000 litres of diesel. The report examines control interfaces, absent interlocks, handover procedures and safety management, recording interim checks and requested system modifications.
- 2024May
CHIRP Superyacht FEEDBACK 6 (Summer 2024)
This superyacht incident digest examines watertight door failures, a starting battery explosion, a galley fire, unprotected window cleaning and steering loss. Commentary addresses alarm visibility, towing checks, battery maintenance, heat lamp safeguards, crew numbers and the independence of the designated person ashore.
- 2024
CHIRP Annual Digest 2024
This annual compilation brings together anonymised maritime incident reports and commentary on crew welfare, vessel design, engineering, deck work and navigation. Cases examine enclosed-space entry, mooring injuries, pilot ladders, machinery hazards and groundings. Discussion emphasises leadership, communication, work permits, training and lessons for conventional and autonomous vessel operations.
- 2024
CHIRP Maritime FEEDBACK 74 (Spring 2024)
This maritime digest examines tug and barge safety, dry-ice asphyxiation, leaking bunker connections, sulphur-emission non-compliance, a fall during mast work, lift-maintenance hazards and open cargo hatches at sea. Commentary addresses leadership, familiarisation, ventilation, permits to work and verified isolation, alongside design shortcomings and protection for confidential reporters.
- 2024
CHIRP Maritime FEEDBACK 75 (Summer 2024)
Confidential maritime reports examine commercial pressure over damaged anchors, laundry and cargo fires, machinery and mooring hand injuries, inadequate provisions and a grounding. Commentary addresses escalation of concerns, bridge coordination, laundry practices, dangerous-goods stowage, machinery isolation and guarding, and keeping hands clear during mooring.
- 2024
CHIRP Maritime FEEDBACK 76 (Autumn 2024)
This maritime digest examines unauthorised enclosed-space entry, tug propulsion failure during LNG berthing, suspected officer fatigue, rotating-shaft hazards, inadequate provisions, deficient dynamic-positioning capability and departure in strong winds. Case commentary contrasts effective teamwork and stop-work intervention with commercial pressure and weak safety culture, highlighting entry permits, towing configuration and position-reference requirements.
- 2024
MAIB Safety Digest 1/2024
This marine accident digest presents lessons from merchant shipping, commercial fishing and recreational craft incidents. Cases examine pilot ladders, navigation, mooring machinery, suspended loads, falls and recovery from the water. Reproduced bulletins and flyers address RIB passenger injuries, dredging-chain failures, fire-extinguishing systems and flotation-device suitability.
- 2024
MAIB Safety Digest 2/2024
A collection of marine accident accounts and preventive lessons spanning merchant shipping, commercial fishing and recreational boating. Cases examine steering and propulsion failures, mooring injuries, grounding, fire, flooding and capsize. Lessons address maintenance, navigation, risk assessment, equipment interfaces, watertight integrity and emergency evacuation, alongside reproduced safety bulletins and flyers.
- 202318 Dec
Two hand injuries
Two marine incidents involved a pilot’s knuckle injured by an abruptly closing access hatch and a seaman’s thumb crushed during small-boat mooring. The flash examines hatch securing, bulky backpack access, unassessed pinch points, communication and glove compliance, recommending secured hatches and separate transfer of bulky bags.
- 202314 Dec
Heavy contact between the high-speed passenger craft Seadogz and a navigation buoy with loss of 1 life
Investigation of Seadogz’s fatal collision with a navigation buoy in Southampton Water. It examines skipper workload and visibility, chart plotter accessibility, passenger seating and handhold protection, lifejacket effectiveness, and operator oversight. Recommendations address passenger protection, inconsistent regulatory guidance and port assessment of high-speed commercial passenger operations.
- 20237 Dec
Accidental discharge of condensed aerosol fire-extinguishing system on beam trawler Resurgam with loss of 1 life
Investigation of a fatal accidental aerosol fire-extinguishing system discharge during installation aboard Resurgam in Newlyn harbour. It examines electrical commissioning, generator placement, toxic combustion products and impaired escape. Laboratory trials inform analysis of inhalation hazards, while findings address installer competence, regulatory approval, contractor coordination and rescue arrangements.
- 20236 Dec
UK MAIB: Shifting of centre-of-gravity of load
A banksman suffered crush injuries when an unbalanced container swung during unloading from a research vessel in port. Improperly secured cargo and unevenly stowed weights affected the load’s centre of gravity. The flash discusses load distribution in lift planning, escape routes, and rigging arrangements for lifting unbalanced loads vertically.
- 20232 Nov
H2S released during rig reactivation activities
During quayside rig reactivation, hydrogen sulphide escaped from a machinery-space bilge water tank after its top hatch was removed, threatening nearby personnel. The alert describes acute inhalation dangers, including immediate collapse at concentrations above 1,000 ppm, alongside steel corrosion and flammable or explosive concentration limits.
- 20233 Oct
Serious hand injury during mooring operations
A dock worker sustained a serious hand injury while removing a mooring rope from a bollard during vessel departure preparations. The flash describes insufficient slack, rising tension at the winch and absent messenger or tail lines. It highlights inadequate planning and risk assessment, hand positioning and readiness to stop unsafe work.
- 202329 Aug
Fatality during transfer of pipes
This safety flash reports a fatality during pipework transfer between a quay and a vessel, with local authorities still investigating. It highlights suspended-load exposure, crush areas and sudden load movement, and recommends access barriers, securing loads against rolling and controlled drop zones adjusted for possible deflection.
- 202317 Aug
Engine room fire on LPG carrier Moritz Schulte with loss of 1 life
Investigation of a fatal engine-room fire aboard Moritz Schulte in Antwerp. Pressurised marine gas oil escaped during inadequately isolated fuel-filter cleaning and ignited on an adjacent engine’s hot exhaust. The report examines maintenance arrangements, competence assurance, escape equipment and rescue coordination, including thermal imaging. No recommendations were made following actions already taken.
- 202315 Aug
CHIRP: Crew vigilance prevents mooring incident
A CHIRP event describes abrasion between mooring lines on a bulk carrier moving alongside a wharf in swell. Crew monitoring identified damage, and communication supported replacement and re-routing before the lines parted. The flash highlights teamwork and the importance of mooring fitting design and directional leads in limiting abrasion.
- 20233 Aug
MSF: Person injured falling between decks
An off-duty client representative fell approximately 2 m between decks on an AHTS vessel alongside in port, sustaining multiple injuries. A raised grating edge was a possible trip hazard; the safety chain’s prior position remained uncertain. Actions included replacing chain barriers with gates or railings and improving restricted-area identification and inductions.
- 202324 Jul
Fire in diesel generator following tests
A vessel’s diesel generator caught fire during operational-speed testing after alternator bearing replacement in port. A misaligned bearing cover caused shaft friction and sparking; insufficient contractor supervision was considered the root cause. The flash emphasises thorough supervision and post-maintenance testing beyond idling speed.
- 202312 Jun
MAIB: Who is in control?
A ferry nearly grounded after confusion over transfer of propulsion control between bridge consoles. The crew regained control by zeroing the joysticks and repeating the command sequence. The flash highlights poorly visible control displays, unambiguous console indications, careful consideration of modifications and familiarity with documented recovery procedures.
- 202327 Apr
Carbon monoxide poisoning on board the sports cruiser Emma Louise with loss of 2 lives
Investigates two fatal carbon monoxide poisonings aboard Emma Louise at Port Hamble Marina. Gas measurements and optical gas imaging indicated that engine exhaust likely entered the poorly ventilated covered cockpit via a towable ski ring at the transom. The report discusses marine carbon monoxide alarms, ventilation and awareness among recreational boat users.
- 202316 Feb
High-potential incident: Person struck by Yokohama fender
A crewman was injured when a Yokohama fender pivoted during lifting aboard a vessel in harbour, trapping him against a bumper bar frame while he released sea fastenings. The flash identifies gaps in task planning and risk assessment, and describes reviews of fender storage, personnel positioning and stop-work expectations.
- 202311 Jan
Incorrect gangway rigging
Two cases illustrate unsafe gangway arrangements: placement near an unbarriered quay drop with an incorrectly mounted safety net, and deformation over a bollard as propeller wash moved a vessel. Lessons address inclination limits, fencing, safety nets, positioning, assessment of vessel movement risks and adequate gangway watch.
- 2023Jan
CHIRP Superyacht FEEDBACK 1 (January 2023)
This first superyacht incident digest examines backstay entrapment, tender grounding, unfamiliar steering controls, unsafe recovery from the water, an uncontrolled anchor chain and a fatal jet-ski collision. Commentary addresses communication, equipment familiarisation, control testing and the pressures that undermine captains’ safety decisions, alongside crew welfare and medical support.
- 2023
CHIRP Annual Digest 2023
An annual compilation of confidential maritime incident reports and analytical articles covering shipping, commercial fishing, ports and superyachts. Case commentaries examine navigation, mooring, lifting, equipment failures and enclosed-space entry. Wider discussions address safety culture, communication, seafarer wellbeing and fatigue, including an indicative watchkeeper fatigue assessment tool.
- 2023
CHIRP Fisher Feedback Autumn 2023
CHIRP’s first commercial fishing newsletter examines pot-line propeller fouling, a conveyor fingertip injury, a lone fisher falling overboard, failed trawl hoisting, a ferry collision and recovered unexploded ordnance. Case commentary discusses maintenance isolation, work communication, wire-rope inspection, harbour navigation and personal emergency signalling and self-rescue arrangements.
- 2023
CHIRP Maritime FEEDBACK 70 (Spring 2023)
This maritime incident digest examines single points of safety failure through reports of grounding, steering loss, unsafe fendering, towing difficulties, coercion, obstructed access, collision, maintenance injury, lifting failure and battery fire. Commentary addresses bridge teamwork, workload, isolation, inspection access and emergency arrangements, with practical lessons for vessel crews and managers.
- 2023
CHIRP Maritime FEEDBACK 71 (Summer 2023)
This maritime digest examines engine defects, misleading master–pilot exchanges, language barriers, a power shutdown, a yacht collision and repeated falls from a paint raft. Commentary addresses commercial pressure, communication and supervision. A separate article describes automated tank cleaning with high-pressure spinning nozzles and remote drone inspections to reduce enclosed-space entry.
- 2023
CHIRP Maritime FEEDBACK 72 (Autumn 2023)
This maritime digest examines an averted mooring-line failure, a lithium-ion battery cargo fire, contractor fatigue, a diver’s propeller injury, tanker engine-control difficulties and a fisher’s overboard rescue. It discusses mooring design, dangerous-goods packing, rest arrangements, diver visibility, emergency teamwork and personal rescue equipment, alongside two improper cargo-stowage reports.
- 2023
CHIRP Ports and Harbours Feedback summer 2023
This inaugural ports and harbours digest analyses five reports involving a quayside ladder fall, failed moorings and collisions, ferry traffic conflict, a trapped mooring launch and container-ship grounding. Commentary examines safe access, casualty recovery, bollard capacity, wind loading, navigation aids and communication between port authorities, pilots and vessel crews.
- 2023
CHIRP Superyacht FEEDBACK 2 (Spring 2023)
Six superyacht reports examine authority gradients, guest distractions and safety culture through a deck slip, navigational near misses, tender lifting failure, towing capsize and lithium-ion battery fire. Commentary discusses constructive challenge, safe access, inspection limitations, lifejackets, emergency communications and fire response, contrasting weak practices with effective crew action.
- 2023
CHIRP Superyacht FEEDBACK 4 (Autumn 2023)
This superyacht digest analyses an allergic reaction, faulty gangway installation, a dive-vessel capsize, berth-departure contact, mooring injuries and grounding followed by dismissal of a reporting watchkeeper. Commentary examines equipment certification, stability testing, medical preparedness, line-handling teamwork, passage planning and constructive challenges to unsafe decisions.
- 2023
MAIB Safety Digest 1/2023
This marine accident digest examines merchant shipping, commercial fishing and recreational boating casualties. Cases address navigation, machinery maintenance, lifting, fires and people overboard. Lessons emphasise clear control indications, practical recovery drills, effective firefighting arrangements and implementation of risk assessments, with reproduced fishing safety flyers discussing personal distress beacons.
- 2023
MAIB Safety Digest 2/2023
A multi-case marine safety digest draws lessons from navigation incidents, fires, falls, cargo lifting, mooring injuries and fishing casualties. Case analyses examine communication, electrical work, lifejacket use and recovery arrangements. Reproduced bulletins and flyers address fuel-hose modifications, liferaft servicing, carbon monoxide poisoning and fatal man-overboard incidents.
- 202221 Dec
MAIB: Engine room fire flashover
A ferry engine-compartment fire was initially controlled by sealing the space and activating fixed carbon dioxide suppression. After berthing, a fire officer opened the hatch without liaising with the crew, causing rapid reignition and severe damage. Lessons emphasise communication and keeping the compartment sealed until external deckhead temperatures reach ambient levels.
- 202213 Dec
MAIB: Worker falls between vessel and quay
A shore worker used a stowed gangway despite crew instructions to wait for alternative access as the tide fell. He slipped and fell over 8 m into the sea, sustaining significant injuries. The flash describes his rescue and stresses safe access arrangements and compliance with instructions to visitors.
- 2022Dec
CHIRP Maritime FEEDBACK 69
This maritime digest examines unsafe pilot boarding arrangements, helm execution, substandard ship conditions, collision avoidance, a crushed mooring launch and yacht grounding. Commentary emphasises closed-loop communication, challenging unsafe directions and port coordination. A separate article explores links between fishing crews’ working conditions, labour exploitation and safety.
- 202223 Nov
Oil leakage from vessel crane onto quayside
A vessel crane’s hydraulic hose ruptured during retrieval of anchor handling chains, spilling oil onto the quayside. Poor lighting hindered detection during inspection, and crew initially failed to report the incident. The flash calls for awareness of environmental reporting requirements and planned hose inspection and condition-based renewal.
- 202223 Nov
Vessel collision with underwater objects in harbour
An AHTS vessel departing a harbour struck uncharted submerged pilings, damaging its hull and allowing seawater ingress. The flash identifies missing navigational markings and inaccurate chart information. It recommends calculating under-keel clearance with relevant operating factors and, where possible, avoiding areas subject to navigation warnings.
- 20228 Nov
Failure of moorings during heavy weather
A drill ship preparing for lay-up broke its moorings in storm-force winds and drifted until a pre-deployed anchor held. The flash identifies delayed thruster availability, failure to request tug assistance and planning shortcomings. Recommendations address timely thruster starting, improved mooring plans, emergency response and lay-up procedures.
- 202226 Jul
Machinery breakdown leads to a collision
A tanker approaching a berth suffered main engine failure and struck a moored barge at around 4.5 knots. Incomplete engine-control maintenance left a locking pin unsecured, activating emergency manoeuvring overrides. The flash highlights physical verification of locking arrangements, closer pilot–bridge integration and attention to single points of failure.
- 20224 Jul
American P&I Club: Extreme bollard pull
A container vessel’s four bow lines overloaded a single dock bollard through their self-tensioning winches after crane obstruction prompted a departure from normal mooring practice. The bollard failed, but spring lines limited vessel movement and nobody was injured. The flash highlights bollard capacity checks and assessment of changed mooring arrangements.
- 20224 Jul
Lost Time Injuries due to a failed mooring line
A stern-to-quayside mooring line failure injured two crew members through snapback, resulting in lost time injuries. The flash discusses rope friction, shortened line length, mooring routing and gaps in risk assessment. Lessons address improved camera monitoring, line protection and conditional routing changes to avoid snapback exposure on the working deck.
- 20224 Jul
LTI – Struck when anchor wire end pulled free of drum clamps
A crew member suffered skull fractures when an anchor wire whipped over a winch drum during wire replacement. Vessel movement tensioned the wire connected to a shoreside spooler; stoppers failed and loosened clamps released the end. The flash examines inadequate risk assessment, stopper arrangements and missing safety chains, stressing better planning.
- 2022Jun
CHIRP Maritime FEEDBACK 67
Maritime incident reports examine risk acceptance through undocking damage, unsafe access over timber cargo, power and detection failures, collisions, cargo-control distraction, grounding, sinking and boiler repair. Commentary addresses testing, isolation, familiarisation and challenge culture. Additional material describes tug-use training and a pilot-boarding safety checklist.
- 202221 Apr
Communications: LTI finger injury during lifting operations
A rigger suffered a crushed ring finger requiring fingertip amputation during vessel demobilisation, when hoisting began with a hook still attached to a container lifting eye. The flash examines disputed hand signals, inadequate lift planning, unclear banksman responsibilities and unsuitable glove impact ratings, recommending clearer communication and documented demobilisation planning.
- 20221 Apr
American P&I Club: Fire Started from cutting torch work
A cargo-hold fire occurred during oxy-acetylene cutting on a vessel in port. Sparks and molten slag passed through pontoon gaps and ignited plastic cargo covering; slag also burnt through a fire blanket. The flash highlights location-specific hot work permits, vigilant fire watches and effective shielding of nearby cargo.
- 202211 Mar
Non-fatal man overboard incident
A pilot fell into the water while attempting to leave a mooring boat before it was securely moored. He escaped uninjured using an inflated lifejacket and jetty ladder, although the lifejacket was incorrectly secured. The flash addresses safe disembarkation, buddy support, lifejacket fastening and gangway safeguards.
- 202210 Feb
Equipment on quay damaged when vessel started listing
A quayside pad-eye inspection using a mobile elevated work platform resulted in basket handrail damage when crane movement caused the vessel to list and its pipelay tower to strike the basket. The flash identifies missing work authorisation, inadequate simultaneous-operations assessment and operator training, and recommends coordinated planning and practised rescue arrangements.
- 2022Feb
CHIRP Maritime FEEDBACK 66 (February 2022)
This maritime incident digest examines accommodation ladder failure, unsafe floating-armoury conditions, personnel falls, defective workboat lifting eyes, berthing errors, a fatal tug-line incident and a hydraulic motor fire. Commentary addresses maintenance, securing arrangements, bridge resource management, mooring briefings, human-centred deck design and collision-avoidance communication.
- 202220 Jan
Master links came free from lifeboat release hooks, releasing the lifeboat
During annual checks alongside, an unmanned lifeboat launch ended with uncontrolled disconnection of both master links and subsequent release of its painters. Incorrectly orientated handles released the hook safety latches. The lifeboat sustained slight damage but no injuries occurred. Replacement links with sideways-orientated handles were specified.
- 202210 Jan
Fire door left wedged open
A vessel visit in port revealed a laundry fire door still propped open after work. The flash identifies missing risk assessment, toolbox discussion and post-job inspection. It recommends assessing disabled safety systems and checking their restoration, while suggesting design-stage consideration of tasks that avoid disabling safeguards.
- 2022
CHIRP Annual Digest 2022
A compilation of maritime cases published during 2022, with commentary and supporting insight articles. Reports examine navigation, pilot boarding, mooring, towing, engineering maintenance and working conditions. Discussions address communication, bridge-team challenge, pressurised equipment, harness arrangements, risk assessment, permits and training, alongside examples of unsafe practice and effective intervention.
- 2022
MAIB Safety Digest 1/2022
This multi-case marine digest examines collisions, groundings, machinery failures, fires and people entering the water across merchant, fishing and leisure vessels. Lessons address bridge teamwork, maintenance isolation, pilot-ladder securing, risk assessment and emergency preparedness. Reproduced bulletins and flyers discuss vehicle-deck crushing, collision avoidance and fishing-vessel survival.
- 2022
MAIB Safety Digest 2/2022
A collection of marine accident lessons covering merchant ships, fishing vessels and recreational craft. Cases examine groundings, fires, towing and lifting failures, flooding, capsize and people overboard. Reproduced bulletins and flyers discuss blocked CO2 pilot hoses, vessel stability, flotation and distress alerting, alongside navigation, training and equipment checks.
- 202116 Dec
Grounding of chemical tanker Key Bora
Investigates Key Bora’s grounding near Kyleakin pier, Scotland, with hull damage and ballast tank flooding but no injury or pollution. Examines inaccurate survey data used for passage planning, ineffective ECDIS use, bridge resource management and deficiencies in pier safety governance, alongside subsequent actions and recommendations.
- 20212 Dec
Crew member stopped unsafe cargo operations
A Second Officer stopped third-party dock-to-vessel cargo lifting after observing an uncoloured wire set and a metal cargo box without valid certification marks. Requested assurance was not provided, so the cargo remained on the quay and was quarantined. The flash highlights stop-work authority, knowledge of colour coding and equipment checks before lifting.
- 202125 Nov
Use of damaged electrical equipment by dock workers
Third-party welders preparing anchor sea-fastening work aboard a vessel in port had damaged wiring connected without a plug. Vessel crew stopped the job, and the ETO repaired the wiring and fitted a suitable plug. The flash highlights omitted visual inspections and possible lessons for subcontractor oversight during busy port calls and mobilisations.
- 202119 Nov
Fuel oil hose burst during bunkering
A two-inch fuel oil hose burst during bunkering in port as the transfer rate increased, spilling around 30–50 litres onto the jetty. None went overboard. The cause remained unconfirmed despite recent third-party testing. The flash recommends inspecting hose stowage and considering more frequent repositioning of coiled hoses to avoid localised damage.
- 202118 Nov
MSF: Dropped object during cargo discharge operations
A sea fastening bracket weighing about 3 kg fell from a generator’s forklift pocket onto a quayside trailer during cargo discharge using a mobile shore crane. The flash identifies missed dropped-object sweeps and poor lower tween-deck lighting, and records renewed crew communication about sweeps and possible vigilance lessons for repetitive work.
- 202115 Oct
Unsafe personnel transfer – man overboard
A diver slipped while boarding a pilot boat using a quayside fender. His assisting supervisor also lost balance, and both jumped into the water. Their life-jackets inflated and neither was injured. The flash identifies unsuitable access and unexercised stop-work authority, urging safe access arrangements and renewed emphasis on stopping unsafe work.
- 202122 Sep
Crush incident on general cargo vessel Cimbris with loss of 1 life
MAIB investigates a stevedore’s fatal crushing during hatch-cover movement aboard Cimbris at Antwerp Bulk Terminal. The report examines restricted crane-operator visibility, the absence of a banksman, lifting arrangements and ship–shore coordination. It identifies weak safety cultures and records procedural changes and recommendations for the vessel manager and port labour federation.
- 202119 Aug
Lifting complex loads – offloading third party equipment
A rented cherry picker tilted against a vessel’s bulwarks during offloading in port, causing minor damage. The flash identifies shortcomings in crew handover, lift planning and supplier documentation, alongside a rigging clash. Actions address equipment-specific lift plans, certified rigging, vendor information and competent examination before use.
- 20216 Aug
Sinking of the wooden hulled motorboat Globetrotter with loss of 1 life
Investigation of Globetrotter’s foundering off Fleetwood during a recreational angling trip, with one drowning after anchor-rope entanglement. The report examines poor wooden-hull condition, probable grounding damage, inadequate passage planning and emergency preparedness. It discusses bilge pumping, flotation devices, liferaft provision and rescue difficulties; the exact source of water ingress remained unestablished.