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 […]
Gangway Watch
Why the most “boring” watch on board quietly carries legal, safety, and fatal risk Estimated read time: 40–50 minutesSkill level: Cadet → AB → Junior Officer Contents 1. Introduction – Why Gangway Watch Is Consistently Underestimated Gangway watch is often assigned as: That perception is wrong. Across commercial shipping, gangway incidents generate more injury claims […]
Self-Tensioning Winches
Automation, brake physics, control logic, and why “set and forget” is one of the most dangerous phrases on deck Estimated read time: 35–45 minutesSkill level: Cadet → AB → Junior Officer → Chief Mate Contents Use the links below to jump to any section: 1. Introduction – Why Automation Changed Mooring (and Risk) Self-tensioning winches […]
Mooring Arrangements
The geometry of restraint, load-sharing reality, and why “more lines” can still fail Estimated read time: 35–45 minutesSkill level: Cadet → AB → Junior Officer → Chief Mate Contents Use the links below to jump to any section: 1. Introduction – Strength Doesn’t Save Bad Geometry A mooring arrangement is not “a bundle of strong […]
Snap-Back Zones – The Physics Behind the Kill
A full operational guide to mooring danger areas, load limits, winch braking, geometry, and the habits that keep people alive Estimated read time: 35–45 minutesSkill level: Cadet → AB → Junior Officer → Chief Mate Table of Contents Use the links below to jump to any section: 1. Introduction A deck can look calm while […]
Why Mooring Lines Fail Without Warning
Stored energy, false confidence, and the physics that kill experienced seafarers Estimated read time: 25–30 minutesSkill level: Cadet → AB → Junior Officer → Chief Mate Contents Use the links below to jump to any section: GlossaryRelated ArticlesTags 1. Introduction – The Most Dangerous “Normal” Operation on Board Mooring is treated as routine because it […]