Near miss: Man overboard during vessel docking

A wind turbine crew transfer vessel (CTV) was assisting another vessel with propulsion problems.

The two vessels were aiming to dock bow-to-bow with their 'push on' fendering.

The master of the disabled vessel transferred to the assisting vessel without incident and took over the controls.

While the vessels were docking, the master of the assisting vessel slipped from the bow and fell into the sea.

His lifejacket inflated immediately, and as he swam towards the other vessel, the other master onboard carried out a man overboard procedure. The master was recovered within minutes.

The master of the assisting vessel handled the situation well, manoeuvring the vessel to recover the man in the water before putting the engines to neutral and assisting the deck supervisor to bring the man aboard.

The assisting vessel moved clear to allow the master of the disabled vessel to take control before it made a second approach. This approach was not completed before the master of assisting vessel attempted to transfer across the bows.

Both masters and one deck supervisor failed to follow correct procedures regarding the correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as lifejackets. The master of the assisting vessel was wearing a lifejacket, but the crotch straps were not properly secured.

The master of the disabled vessel reported their mechanical problems to the marine co-ordinator, but none of the masters discussed their next steps with the co-ordinator.

Should the mechanical problems have been reported fully, it was likely that a crew member could have been talked through the process of fixing it remotely, avoiding the need for the assisting vessel and the incident.

Ensure all personnel onboard understand the importance of wearing the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) properly. Update and reinforce existing training.

Ensure that all problems are communicated clearly to off-site personnel (e.g. company office, other vessels etc.), so that they may be able to assist remotely where possible.

How can something like this happen here? What would you differently in a similar situation?

What should you do in case of a mechanical failure on your vessel?

How do you know what is the correct PPE for your task, and if you are wearing it correctly?

What should you do if the PPE you need is not available?

What is our emergency response procedure for ‘man overboard’?