Lessons learned: Assess position before lifting operations

While lifting operations can be undertaken by only two people, ideally, three people should be involved: a crane operator, a rigger, and a banksman/supervisor. In this incident, the trainee deckhand was acting as the rigger, and the more experienced deckhand was the banksman, who should have ensured that the trainee was correctly dressed (with no snagging hazards) before the work commenced.

To be safe, all persons should remain in sight of one another, and operations should stop automatically if line of sight is lost.

Key takeaways

Seafarers, “If you are unsure, stop the lift.”

Before any lift, check your position and where your crewmates are. If something does not feel right, speak up. You are not alone—support each other and stop the job if needed. No task is worth a life.

Ship managers, “Good training keeps crews safe under pressure.”

High-pressure operations need high-quality, regular training. Focus on real-life scenarios, not just checklists. Reinforce what good looks like—and give crews the confidence to act when things feel wrong.

Regulators, “Look beyond the paperwork—watch how people work.”

Safe lifting depends on clear communication, awareness, and confidence to speak up. Check if procedures work in practice. Support systems where stopping a job is seen as good seamanship, not failure.