Alert 99 – 29 Crane Operations Incident
Alert 99 – 29 Crane Operations Incident
WHAT HAPPENED:
The crane main load line was landing the second of a series of loads onto a moored supply vessel when the fast line failed. The 14” (36cm) fast line ball, weighing approximately 400 lbs (181.4kg), fell 140 ft. (42.6m) onto the deck of the supply vessel. At failure, the cargo basket was 15 ft. (4.5m) above the deck, and two rig roustabouts on the vessel were positioning the load using tag lines. They were approximately 8 ft. (2.4m) from the point where the ball impacted. Fortunately, neither roustabout was injured. Approximately 100’ (30.5m) of fast line whipped back down the boom and came to rest on the rig main deck.