The United States Coast Guard on 5 December 2023 issued a safety alert after a casualty involving a shipboard crane.
During a recent marine incident involving a shipboard crane, a 69-ton wind turbine nacelle fell eight feet during offloading, causing significant vessel damage and total cargo loss.
Investigation revealed wire rope failure due to corrosion, wear, and overload, even though it was within its service life.
Crane wire rope failures, while rare, pose serious consequences, including vessel damage, cargo loss, and potential injury or death.
Industry standards suggest a ten-year service life, but harsh operating conditions may limit suitability.
To address hazards, robust inspection, and testing are crucial, with some manufacturers recommending pressure lubrication for corrosion protection.
Periodic load tests every five years are essential to verify safe loading capacity.
Recent SOLAS amendments mandate regulations for onboard lifting appliances, including cranes.
The Coast Guard strongly advises vessels with shipboard cranes to:
- Increase load testing frequency beyond 5-year mandates.
- Use pressure lubricating devices for routine maintenance.
- Align maintenance tracking systems with manufacturer protocols.
- Consider early renewal of crane wire ropes to prevent failures.
- Instruct personnel to never position themselves under suspended cargo.
- Ensure crane operators are well-trained and follow industry best practices.
- Implement more frequent wire rope visual inspections.
- Degrease before inspections to uncover concealed surface defects.
For more information, please see the document below (available only to subscribers):
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