Crush incident on general cargo vessel Cimbris with loss of 1 life
Location: Antwerp, Belgium.
Accident Investigation Report 12/2021
Read our marine accident investigation report, which includes what happened, actions taken and subsequent recommendations:
Summary
On 14 July 2020 a port stevedore on board the Gibraltar registered general cargo vessel Cimbris was fatally crushed when a hatch cover was moved by the ship’s gantry crane. No-one saw the stevedore place himself in a hazardous position between the crane and the hatch cover, and the ship’s chief officer did not have a clear line of sight.
We conducted this investigation on behalf of the Gibraltar Government in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between the MAIB and the Red Ensign Group Category 1 registries of Isle of Man, Cayman Islands, Bermuda and Gibraltar.
Safety Issues
-
the hatch cover lifting operation was not properly planned, adequately supervised, or carried out in a safe manner
-
banksmen were not used and the hatch cover was carried over people working below
-
communications between the stevedores and ship’s crew demonstrated a weak safety culture
-
stevedore placed himself in danger
-
stevedore was unsighted by the gantry crane operator
Recommendations
A recommendation (2021/126) has been made to Briese Dry Cargo GmbH & Co. KG to improve the safety culture on board their vessels.
Recommendations (2021/127 and 2021/128) have been made to Centrale der Werkgevers aan de Haven van Antwerpen to improve the safety culture among their port workers and to review compliance with safe working practices on board customer vessels.