Alert 13 – 03 Vessel to Vessel Transfer Hose Whiplash Results in Fatality
WHAT HAPPENED:
A vessel was instructed to supply base oil to a drillship working offshore. While completing the connection on the vessel’s manifold, the transfer hose was suddenly tensioned and snatched off the vessel’s manifold. The hose whiplashed around and struck an Able-Bodied Seaman (AB), which knocked him overboard. General alarms on both vessels were raised. The AB was recovered by the drillship’s rescue boat and was noted to have been suffering from multiple injuries. The injured AB was evacuated, by helicopter, to the nearest hospital where he passed away.