The Commission is investigating an accident on the Singapore-registered bulk carrier, M.V. Thor Nitnirund in the Cook Strait.
Executive summary
The reported circumstances were that a crew member suffered a serious injury when struck by a snapped rope that had been under tension. Crew members had been using the rope and a winch to retrieve lashing chains* that had fallen overboard in heavy weather. As New Zealand’s independent safety agency, TAIC is investigating this ‘very serious casualty’ as required under the International Maritime Organisation’s Casualty Investigation Code.
*a lashing chain is part of the cargo securing system, used to secure logs and timber cargo on the deck or in the cargo holds