A mooring line under tension stores enormous energy. When it parts, it can whip back in a split second, and the crew closest to the operation are the ones in its path.
This week’s Safety Circular looks at why lines fail (overloading, worn rope, poor arrangement) and why standing in the wrong place is so dangerous. A line doesn’t need to hit you head-on. A bight, a bollard, or a fairlead can put you in the danger zone.
A mooring line gives no second warning. Know where to stand, and know where not to.