Transport Malta’s Marine Security Investigation Unit has issued an investigation report on the deadly accidents of a crew member as a result of failure of an overhead monorail crane wire rope, within the port of Laem Chabang, Thailand, on 07 November 2022.
The incident
The vessel was engaged in cargo operations on the port of Laem Chabang, Thailand. Within the morning of 07 November 2022, an oiler and the 2 wipers have been assigned to switch heavy scrap from the engine-room workshop to the port aspect of the exterior ‘A’ deck of the lodging. The metallic objects had remained on board following the vessel’s current dry dock works.
The port aspect arm of the vessel’s overhead monorail crane on deck was used to hoist the drum-full of the scrap metallic and place it on the exterior ‘A’ deck. After the drum was positioned within the supposed location, the oiler hoisted the crane’s block, utilizing the wi-fi distant controller to park the port aspect arm in its securing place. At one level, the crane’s wire rope parted, and the block fell onto the oiler, who was standing instantly beneath it, on the exterior ‘A’ deck.
The oiler suffered deadly accidents as a result of this incidence. Web site assessments and laboratory evaluation performed on varied parts of the monorail crane, revealed that the hoist restrict swap of the port aspect arm of the monorail crane was inoperative, since its drive chain had disengaged from certainly one of its sprockets. Moreover, the overload restrict switches of the monorail crane weren’t designed to forestall over-hoisting of the crane’s blocks.
Subsequently, the port aspect block of the monorail crane was hoisted past its restrict, and the wire rope parted when subjected to overloading.
Investigation
Speedy causes of the accident
Fatally injured, the oiler skilled the port aspect block of the monorail crane falling on him whereas hoisting it. The incident occurred as he stood instantly beneath the crane’s port aspect arm at that second.
A laboratory evaluation of the separated wire rope from the monorail crane’s port aspect arm, a couple of meter from its mounted finish, revealed that the failure resulted from overloading the wire rope.
Circumstances and different security elements
Deformations noticed on the port aspect block, its sheave, and the crane’s sheave point out contact between the crane’s sheave and the block, in addition to the block’s sheave, throughout hoisting. This contact contributed to overloading the wire, resulting in its failure.
Earlier than the accident, the drive chain of the port aspect hoist restrict swap disengaged from its small sprocket, rendering the hoist restrict swap non-functional. Crew members solely found this challenge after the accident.
Laboratory evaluation of the port aspect hoist restrict swap’s drive chain and sprockets recognized put on on the gear enamel of the small sprocket and traces of adherent paint on the interior floor of the drive chain rollers. This hindered the drive chain from absolutely participating with the sprocket enamel.
The presence of paint might have induced the drive chain to disengage from the small sprocket previous to the accident. The settings of the overload restrict switches wouldn’t have protected the wire rope towards over-hoisting.
Classes realized
CMA CGM Worldwide Delivery Co. Pte. Ltd., Singapore is suggested by Transport Malta to:
Substitute the prevailing overload restrict switches on the deck monorail cranes with a load limiter to remove the integrated delay time.
Substitute the deformed port aspect massive sprocket with a brand new one.
Substitute the small sprockets on the port aspect as a result of manifested abrasion and put on patterns and examine the starboard aspect sprocket, changing it if needed.
Conduct an exhaustive inspection of the system and analyze whether or not variations are needed to raised handle the truthful put on and tear of the sprockets over time.
Make sure that the drive chain techniques of the deck monorail cranes are a part of the deliberate upkeep system, with needed precautions taken to forestall insufficient lubrication at prescribed time intervals.
Take into account the potential for positioning the crew members working the deck monorail cranes on ‘D’ deck to raised observe hoisting and decreasing operations and take well timed actions if needed.
Did you subscribe to our day by day E-newsletter?
It’s Free Click on right here to Subscribe!
Supply: Transport Malta
