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Published by the Maritime Executive
Published by the Maritime Executive
Published by the Maritime Executive
Posted by Chris Dyson on July 9, 2017 at 7:41 PM
Although each ship’s crane failures are unique, there are often similarities between them, just in the global shipping industry, so many accidents can be avoided.
Based on Brookes Bell’s experience, the number of major ship crane casualties appears to be decreasing. However, the still occurring accidents may have far-reaching consequences for shipowners, operators, stevedores and seafarers. These consequences include not only the early damage cost, but also the impact of injury or death, as well as the cost and time loss caused by the suspension of the crane during the accident investigation and repair.
There are many factors that cause failures, and best practice forensic investigations must be completed to determine the root cause of the ship crane failure. The investigation should include the mobilization of appropriate experts on site from the beginning to ensure early assessment and preservation of important evidence, thereby helping to effectively end crane failure disputes.
Brookes Bell's crane experts, supported by a multidisciplinary team including metallurgists, tribologists, shipbuilders, and other experts, have investigated thousands of crane failures around the world. Although each case is unique, Brooks Bell has identified many commonalities between events in the global shipping industry. The most common of these are:
Wire failure is the most common cause of crane accidents. On ship cranes, wires may fail due to overload, fatigue, existing defects, or aging. This type of accident may cause serious damage, and the hook load (mainly cargo) accidentally falls from a height.
If slewing bearings are not properly designated for their required service purposes, properly monitored and maintained, their failure may be catastrophic within a period of time; eventually, the entire crane will overturn, causing serious human and financial impacts.
The pulley must be lubricated regularly. The remote lubrication system may be out of repair, which means that the bearings must be lubricated locally, which usually involves the use of rigging to climb up the crane and enter the relevant area. Once maintenance becomes more difficult and time-consuming, it is more likely to be ignored, which in turn leads to a greater possibility of crane failure. Pulley problems can cause abnormal and accelerated wire wear.
Improper operation of the crane or swinging its load can cause damage, including major structural collapse, which can have serious effects in the worst case. The behavior of crane operators (usually stevedores) should be monitored and controlled by shipboard personnel as necessary.
Manufacturers can describe many key crane components as "maintenance-free." However, Brookes Bell has investigated crane failures caused by such components, and these components still require regular maintenance. The individual has explained the manufacturer's guidelines and assumed that certain crane components do not require any maintenance during their entire life cycle.
It is in the best interests of owners and operators to reduce the risk of crane failure. As shown in the above list, many of the most common causes of crane failure can be avoided. Then why do accidents happen?
One answer is that as a highly complex machine, cranes are usually not given the priority they deserve. It is easy to understand why this neglect occurs. Unlike the ship’s main engine that must remain in full working condition to enable the ship to perform its duties, the crane is only needed at a specific time (ie when loading and unloading cargo). Although cranes are not used during the ship's voyage, their ropes and other components may still be degraded due to the marine environment, which may eventually lead to failure.
In addition, in the current difficult financial environment, the efforts of owners and operators to reduce costs may have a negative impact on the maintenance system and the proactive regular overhaul of key mechanical items.
In order to minimize the risk of failure, shipowners and operators should follow the planned crane inspection and maintenance system and comply with necessary requirements.
In addition, in my personal opinion, the inspection of ship cranes every five years by manufacturers or professional crane service engineers is a positive improvement. These inspections should include the hydraulic pumps and motors of the crane.
A suitable method for crane operators to assess the internal conditions of hydraulic pumps and motors is through hydraulic oil analysis. This includes sending hydraulic oil samples to laboratories onshore, where they can be checked for contamination and wear debris. If internal wear is suspected, the shipowner can take appropriate measures to solve the problem.
Chris Dyson is a senior partner and marine engineer at Brookes Bell.
The views expressed here are those of the author and not necessarily those of the maritime executive.
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