Maritime Safety Warning: Preventing Crane Wire Rope Failures on Ships

The U.S. Coast Guard issued a maritime safety warning after a recent accident involving an onboard crane. The incident occurred during the unloading of a wind turbine nacelle when a wire rope broke, causing the cargo to fall and resulting in significant damage to the vessel. No injuries were reported, but the potential for harm was high, as the load landed only a meter away from workers. An investigation found that corrosion, wear, and overload were the primary causes of the wire rope failure, despite it still being within its permitted lifespan.

Cargo handling using shipboard cranes is critical for ports with limited land-based infrastructure, but the rare occurrence of crane wire rope failures can have serious consequences, including ship damage, cargo loss, injury, and death. While current regulations and conventions do not specifically address wire rope maintenance and disposal criteria, vessel operators are encouraged to implement rigorous inspection and testing protocols to ensure the equipment’s suitability over its lifespan.

One challenge in maintaining wire ropes is the difficulty of inspecting their inner core due to their multi-layered construction. Manufacturers recommend using pressure lubricators to protect against corrosion and reduce friction, but heavy grease on the outer strands can hide surface defects. Owners and operators of ships subject to SOLAS regulations should be aware of recent changes, including mandatory requirements for lifting equipment. The Coast Guard advises vessels with onboard cranes to increase load testing frequency, use pressure lubricators, align maintenance tracking systems, consider early replacement of wire ropes, properly train operators, increase visual inspection frequency, and degrease before inspections.

Source .