Rigging & Slinging
How loads really move — and why most lifting injuries start before the crane lifts Category: ON DECK → Lifting OperationsEstimated read time: 60–75 minutesAudience: Zero knowledge → competent AB → junior officer → senior deck officer Introduction – Why lifting feels controlled right up to the moment it isn’t Lifting operations on deck are […]
Wire, Chain & Terminations
Failure you don’t see — until it’s already too late Category: ON DECK → Ropes, Wires & ChainsEstimated read time: 60–75 minutesAudience: Zero knowledge → competent AB → junior officer → senior deck officer Introduction – Why Steel Feels Safer Than It Is Steel inspires confidence. Wire ropes and chains look solid, heavy, and permanent. […]
Rope Materials Explained
Why some lines forgive mistakes — and others kill instantly Category: ON DECK → Ropes, Wires & ChainsEstimated read time: 60–75 minutesAudience: Zero knowledge → competent AB → junior officer → senior deck officer Introduction – Why “a rope is a rope” gets people killed To someone new on deck, all mooring ropes look broadly […]
Winches & Capstans
Entanglement, rendering, and the accidents nobody plans for Category: ON DECK → Deck MachineryEstimated read time: 55–70 minutesAudience: Zero knowledge → competent AB → junior officer → senior watchkeeper Introduction – Why Winches Kill Without Warning Winches and capstans are responsible for more fatal deck injuries than almost any other machinery. The reason is not […]
Windlass & Brake Systems
How anchoring control is actually lost on deck — and why it always feels sudden Category: ON DECK → Deck MachineryEstimated read time: 55–70 minutesAudience: Zero knowledge → competent AB → junior officer → senior watchkeeper Introduction – Why Windlasses Injure Experienced Crew The windlass is one of the most deceptive machines on deck. It […]
Anchor Drag
The deck-side warning signs crews miss before ships start moving Estimated read time: 55–65 minutesSkill level: Cadet → AB → Junior Officer → Chief Mate Contents 1. Introduction – Anchor Drag Is Rarely Sudden When a ship drags anchor, reports often say: “The anchor started dragging.” In reality, drag develops gradually — and deck crews […]
Let-Go vs Walk-Back Anchoring
Brake control, runaway chain, and why anchoring accidents happen in seconds Estimated read time: 55–65 minutesSkill level: Cadet → AB → Junior Officer → Chief Mate Contents 1. Introduction – Anchoring Is Not “Dropping Weight” Anchoring looks simple from the outside. On deck, it is one of the most violent energy transitions on the ship: […]
Snap-Back Zones: Deck-Side Positioning & Fatal Error Patterns
Why people die standing in the “wrong safe place” Estimated read time: 50–60 minutesSkill level: Cadet → AB → Junior Officer → Chief Mate Contents 1. Introduction – Why Snap-Back Is Still Killing Experienced Seafarers Snap-back deaths almost never involve: They involve: The victim usually thought: “I’m not in the snap-back zone.” They were wrong […]
Mooring Plans & Station Organisation
How order, roles, and geometry decide whether a mooring is controlled—or waiting to fail Estimated read time: 45–55 minutesSkill level: Cadet → AB → Junior Officer → Chief Mate Contents 1. Introduction – Why Most Mooring Failures Start Before the First Line Is Run When a mooring line parts, the investigation rarely starts with the […]
Deck Rounds & Patrols
Why most serious incidents are visible hours before they happen Estimated read time: 45–55 minutesSkill level: Cadet → AB → Junior Officer Contents 1. Introduction – Rounds Are Not Walking Deck rounds are often reduced to: That misunderstanding causes incidents. Rounds exist to detect deviation early, before escalation. Every major deck-side failure is preceded by […]