Lessons Learned: Guide Roller Pin Material Failure Causes Safety Concern

IMCA, in its Safety Events, reports that a “Mooring near miss: Guide roller pin is suffering material failure”.

What happened?

A deck stand guide roller pin suffered material failure at its foundation whilst a vessel was mooring. Weather, win,d, and tide conditions were gentle at the time of the incident and the vessel was being held in position using thrusters with no appreciable movement or excessive loads which could have contributed to this incident.

During mooring operations at the forward station when the 3rd headline (blue line in the diagram below) was being heaved up using the warping head (the plan was to make it fast on a bollard to the aft of the failed roller) the deck stand roller pin parted from its base and hit a heater located just aft of this position.

There were no injuries.  However, any crew member standing in the line of fire of the damaged roller would have been seriously injured. The winch pulling force was 12 tonnes, and the roller stand SWL was 33 tonnes.

What were the causes?

• The mooring layout on this vessel was complicated and did not follow accepted and recommended practices, which caused the overloading of structures;
• The routing of the mooring line caused an increase in axial forces on the roller;
• On further investigation it was noticed that the roller pin was already in the process of degradation and at least some part of the welded structure had already disengaged from the base. The roller had not been inspected thoroughly;
• Multiple turns over various fittings increase the complexity of the mooring systems and introduce additional hazards such as complex snapback zones and overloading of structures.

Lessons learned

• Our member arranged to add to their Planned Maintenance System, dismantling and overhauling of deck stand guide rollers every third year;
• Ensure mooring plans use the most suitable and appropriate mooring arrangements;
• Avoid multiple turns which introduce complex snap-back zones and additional hazards. Always discuss such risks as part of the daily planning and toolbox meeting;
• Be aware of your surroundings and the line of fire.

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Source: IMCA

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