DEATH BY GANTRY

15th Dec. 05

A feeder container vessel with one gantry crane, in port.

The Chief Officer went on deck to inspect some containers, 2nd officer was operating the crane. Chief officer was wearing slippers and walking on the containers. The 2nd officer operated the gantry crane, and as usual the alarm bell was 'on' while the crane was moving For'd & Aft.

The Ch. officer slipped at some point when the gantry crane was very near him. Before he could recover from the awkward position or raise an alarm above the noise of the ringing bell to inform the 2nd officer on the crane to stop its travel, the lower part of his body got stuck between the gantry crane-leg and a container. His torso was crushed and he regrettably died after about 3 hrs.