200844 Emergency towing apparatus (ETA) brake failure

 

 

An oil tanker was in dry dock undergoing various surveys. One of the items planned for the day was the testing of the aft emergency towing arrangement (ETA). In order to test the centrifugal brake of the towing wire reel, a shore crane was used to pull the towing wire with a load measuring device attached. The operation was being monitored by the chief and the bosun.

At a particular tension, the brake failed and the entire wire unreeved and broke away from the reel. Fortunately, the strong point held and this alone stopped the heavy end of the towing from falling astern into the dock, where a cherry picker was holding aloft several workers working on the rudder. Luckily no one was injured in the incident. Damage was restricted to the wire reel and to the deck plating.

 

 

The root cause was attributed to material failure in the brake's components.