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Mr Corben Frickleton, a member of the Port’s mooring gang, died when the senhouse slip, which links the mooring line with a connecting wire on the ship, suddenly broke after he had secured the first of the shore mooring lines from the wharf to the tanker Golden Akane.
When it broke, the mooring line whipped away from its fastening point on the Golden Akane and struck Mr Frickleton, causing extensive injuries to his head, face and left arm. He died almost instantly.
The failed senhouse slip was found to be inappropriate for its purpose, and not strong enough to sustain the strain of mooring in combination with the use of a tug, towing tractor, and sea surge.
Maritime NZ investigator Domonic Venz says that the Port did not have a systematic testing regime in place for its senhouse slips.
“We hope this sad accident and today’s sentencing act as a reminder to all employers in the maritime industry that they must proactively take all practicable steps to ensure the safety of employees.
”Following the accident, the Port of Napier replaced the defective senhouse slips and put in place a maintenance programme, and procedures for its workers when using them.
For further information contact:
RCCNZ Media Line
Phone 04 499 7318
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