INT_IMCA_High Potential Near Miss_Dropped object due to contact with crane.09.26

A Dynamic Positioning (DP) beacon came into contact with sheave protection bars, resulting in the beacon and its holder assembly detaching and falling to the deck below.

What happened?

During crane operations on a vessel operating in deep water, the whip line was retrieved from approximately 2,200 meters depth to lift and deploy a hang-off sling over the vessel’s side. While lifting the sling from the deck, a Dynamic Positioning (DP) beacon (a subsea positioning aid mounted on the crane wire just above the hook socket) came into contact with the sheave protection bars. This resulted in the beacon and its holder assembly detaching and falling to the deck below.  The DP beacon weighed 4.3kg and fell 30m to the deck below. No personnel were in the immediate vicinity at the time of the incident; however, no direct controls were in place to restrict personnel access to the area. An investigation is ongoing.