Cause & Consequence
- Collapse, overturn or failure of lifting equipment
Description of Incident
An offshore installation was undertaking supply boat operations and lifting containers up from the boat and onto the installation.
After landing a mini-container (CCU), one of the deck crew observed that the master link which attaches the lifting bridle onto the 5th leg, had parted at the welded joint.
There appeared to be no physical damage to the link or the lifting set that would have indicated the assembly had been subjected to an overload.
The master link was approximately 9 years old and the last MPI of the weld area was undertaken on the 15th November, 2023. The master link will be sent to a metallurgical laboratory for examination.
Previous master link failures:
This is the second failure of a master link during the last 12 months.
The previous event exhibited a similar failure mode (failure at the weld) but it was supplied by a different manufacturer. This failure was the subject of a high learning event issued on 5th July, 2024: Lifting Bridle Master Link Failures.
Useful guidance:
Cargo Carrying Unit Master Links Knowledge Share (Sept 2025)
Good Practice Guidance
Until the results of the metallurgical examination are available, emphasis should be placed on the pre-use inspection of all master links fitted into offshore container sling sets. Visual inspection in the area of the welded joint should be undertaken prior to shipment and prior to back-loading.
A further communication will be issued by Step Change in Safety, following review of the incident investigation report. In the meantime, High Value Learning (5-July,2024)
remains valid and particular attention should be given to a visual inspection of the master link weld.
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