Poavosa-Brave Vessel Reviews and Specifications

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has identified communication breakdowns on the cargo ship 'Poavosa Brave' as the primary cause of a serious injury to a crew member in June 2023. The incident occurred on June 23 while the vessel was anchored off the coast of Tauranga, New Zealand, preparing to load logs. According to the report, three crew members were engaged with an onboard crane when the 'Poavosa Brave' began to sway, resulting in one crew member being struck by the swinging crane block. The victim sustained severe injuries and was airlifted to Tauranga Hospital; he was subsequently transferred to Auckland Hospital the following day for further treatment. Details from the report reveal that at 7 a.m., the vessel’s master informed the bosun, who supervises deck operations, that adverse weather and sea conditions rendered it unsafe for the crew to operate the crane. The master recommended postponing the crane operation until after the ship had docked at the Port of Tauranga. By 1:30 p.m., as weather conditions improved, the bosun decided to proceed with the crane training but neglected to communicate this plan to the chief officer or the master, despite needing their approval. The bosun’s plan involved unhooking the stanchion pull wire after landing the crane hook next to a hatch; however, the hook ended up on top of the hatch. When the chief officer noticed the crane in operation, he hurried onto the deck to halt the unsafe procedures, but at that moment, the stanchions were already upright and secured. The chief officer directed three crew members, including the injured man, to climb atop the hatch to unhook the wire. Due to a lack of communication between the bosun and the chief officer, the crew unknowingly entered a hazardous zone. As they climbed, a swell caused the ship to roll, leading to one crew member being struck and pushed into the ship's structure. Following the accident, the injured crew member received immediate first aid from his colleagues while waiting for an Auckland-based rescue helicopter. The helicopter subsequently winched him aboard for urgent medical attention. TAIC's report concluded that the unfortunate incident could likely have been avoided had there been proper communication among the bosun, chief officer, and master. It noted that all parties had over a decade of experience at sea, emphasizing the critical need for adherence to communication protocols and safety practices. In response to the incident, the vessel's owner, Wisdom Marine, conducted an internal investigation and disseminated a fleet-wide circular to raise awareness. Additionally, crew members were required to review the lessons learned during safety committee meetings and participated in further risk assessment training. The injured crew member was repatriated to China for ongoing medical care and recovery on August 9. The accident underscores the importance of effective communication in maritime operations to ensure crew safety and prevent such incidents in the future. For more details and visuals on the incident, visit the link: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/taic-report-blames-communication-failures-for-cargo-ship-crewmans-serious-injuries/QGERGKI62BHQVHCKG4LTPRHI7I/