A March accident when a mooring line pulled a dock worker and his pickup truck into Baltimore Harbor prompted the Coast Guard to issue a safety alert about using vehicles for line handling.
In the March 21 incident, a line handler at Baltimore’s Terminal 4 was using his truck to assist with lines as the containership MSC Ilona was preparing to depart the port. In a miscommunication, the ship’s crew proceeded to winch in one line that was thrown off the bollard – with the messenger line still attached to the truck’s tow hitch, according to a narrative from the Coast Guard Inspections and Compliance Directorate.
“The shore-side line handler that was using the truck to assist with the evolution narrowly escaped injury and possible death by quickly jumping out of the truck before it was dragged off the terminal,” the advisory said.
It’s common for shore gangs to employ vehicles for handling heavy lines, from trucks and forklifts to even golf carts, the Coast Guard statement notes, adding: “The extreme weights of the mooring lines involved and the lack of adequate personnel to safely accomplish this task lead to the unconventional line handing practices.
It is unknown how often accidents like this happen, the Coast Guard said. But the Occupational Safety and Hazard Administration investigated a similar 1998 accident in Baltimore, when a dock worker drowned after his vehicle was dragged by a line.
For vessel and port operators, the Coast Guard safety experts made several recommendations:
- Develop policies and procedures that address potential dangers when handling lines.
- Evaluate the need for utilizing quick release devices or other “weak link” arrangements.
- Ensure line handlers are able to communicate with vessels during berthing and departure.
“It is also recommended that vessel operators and deck officers' use caution and remain vigilant of all components when hauling in, ensuring that lines and cables are clear and free of attachments,” the advisory concluded. “Special attention should be given to the mooring lines as they are coming off the dock and being hauled aboard.”
