Report published into fatal accident on Mona Manx

Occurred during mooring operations in Chile

An accident investigation report has concluded the second officer of an Isle of Man registered bulk carrier was fatally injured because he was 'struck on the head by a mooring line that had become snagged and then released under tension and vertically recoiled without warning'.

The incident took place aboard the Mona Manx on the morning of 26 August 2021.

The vessel was an Isle of Man registered 35,606 gross tonnage bulk carrier owned by Mona Marine Ltd and operated by MX Bulk Management Ltd. 

Built in 2017, it traded worldwide, carrying a variety of solid bulk cargoes.

It now sails under the flag of Hong Kong and has been renamed the Amoy Dream.

Edwin Vargas was fatally injured when he was 'struck by a recoiling mooring line while the vessel was berthing at Puerto Ventanas, Chile'.

The 36-year-old Filipino national had joined the vessel's crew for the first time on 16 December 2020.

The investigation found that the mooring line had 'become entrapped between the vessel and the berth, probably in way of a fender, then suddenly released as the vessel manoeuvred astern under its own power'. 

As a result, Mr Vargas was 'standing in the danger zone of the tensioned mooring line when it released'.

At 8:36am, a linesman on the quay was moving forward towards the tensioned spring line when a loud bang was heard as the line suddenly released and recoiled vertically upwards.

The report states that the spring line struck Mr Vargas under his chin, and he was 'lifted off his feet and thrown backwards, causing his head to strike the accommodation ladder that was behind and above him. 

'The force of the impact threw his safety helmet backwards, and his VHF radio was catapulted into the water as he collapsed onto the deck.'

Despite a 'rapid emergency response', the severe trauma sustained to Mr Vargas' head and spinal cord meant he was declared dead at the scene.

The investigation into the 'very serious marine casualty' was undertaken by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch on behalf of the Isle of Man Ship Registry.

It was conducted remotely as 'contemporaneous access to the vessel and port was not possible due to Covid-19 travel restrictions'. 

The remote investigation resulted in 'difficulties and delays' in 'obtaining evidence from the accident location'.

As a result of the investigation, Mona Manx’s management company, Union Marine Management Services Pte. Ltd, has taken action to improve crew awareness of the guidance provided in the Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers and reviewed the requirements for safety briefings before arrival at port. 

Additionally, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has amended the Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers to include guidance highlighting the potential vertical component of a recoiling mooring line and the risks associated with mooring line entrapment. 

Puerto Ventanas S.A., the operator of the port of Puerto Ventanas, has held a series of toolbox talks with its shore staff detailing the safety lessons to be learned from this accident. 

Recommendations have also been made to Puerto Ventanas S.A. and Quintero Port Authority to provide clear instructions for masters and pilots on the use of engines alongside and to ensure that the risks associated with mooring line entrapment are considered and included in the master/pilot exchange.

You can find the Marine Accident Investigation Branch report in full HERE.