Two crew members were onboard during a routine launch of a crew tender in port while the bosun operated the crane from the bridge deck. Following standard procedures, he lowered the tender with the crane fully extended and lifted the hook clear to stow it.
However, the bosun became distracted and inadvertently increased the hoisting speed. The hook struck its stop-stowed position with excessive force, breaking free from its clamped arrangement. The 10kg hook then fell 12 metres, narrowly missing a deckhand by just 20cm before striking the inside of the sponson. The impact sent the hook flying to the side of the boat, causing significant damage to the fairing.
Fortunately, no injuries occurred. The captain’s investigation revealed that the crane’s safety sensor— designed to stop the hook from contacting the job head— was missing. While the crane’s wire remained intact, the lack of this critical safety feature contributed to the incident.
The deck crew received a full debrief to address the near miss, review proper crane operation protocols, and emphasise the importance of functional safety systems. Immediate corrective actions include verifying all safety sensors before operations and reinforcing strict adherence to controlled hoisting speeds.
