On the morning of the incident, the vessel was at sea. The weather was calm, with slight seas and a gentle breeze. Work had been planned on the funnel’s exterior to address a job order for repainting and correcting the company logo. Prior to commencing this job, a homemade cradle, essentially a narrow segment of gangway rigged with ropes for handrails, had been prepared by the crew under the supervision of the chief officer, who verified its apparent suitability for the job.
Crewman Falls Six Meters After Momentary Loss of Harness
Shortly before 09:00, two ABs gathered their equipment and required PPE. They had reviewed the relevant risk assessment and completed a work permit for working aloft.
By 09:00, one of the AB’s was positioned on the cradle aloft, suspended by lines attached to the top of the funnel, while the other AB remained on the deck to assist and handle the equipment.
For approximately one hour, the AB aloft methodically sprayed the funnel’s plating with high-pressure water, shifting the cradle vertically and laterally as needed. Throughout this period, the vessel maintained a steady course and speed, and the slight motion of the sea did not interfere with the work. Shortly after 10:00, both men paused for a coffee break. After resuming work around 10:30, the AB on the cradle focused on the forward side of the funnel, continuing cleaning. While repositioning himself on the cradle, he unclipped his safety harness momentarily to move from one end of the platform to the other. In the seconds that followed, he appeared to lose his balance, possibly because his right foot slipped off the edge or became entangled. As a result, he fell from an estimated height of 6 meters onto the deck below. The other AB who had been assisting, saw him strike a portion of the railing or funnel deck structure before landing.
The crew immediately responded by calling for medical assistance on board. They placed him on a stretcher and administered oxygen and first aid in the vessel’s hospital area. Meanwhile, the vessel’s Master contacted the nearest MRCC, which deployed a fast rescue boat. Around 13:00, the rescue boat arrived and took the injured AB ashore for urgent medical treatment.
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