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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 1980
WARNING ON USE OF MOORING HOOKS
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THE MARINE DEPARTMENT TODAY ISSUED A WARNING ON THE DANGERS INVOLVED IN THE USE OF MOORING HOOKS.
A SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT A FATAL ACCIDENT OCCURRED RECENTLY DURING A WARPING OPERATION ON A LIGHTER. IT OCCURRED WHEN THE ATTACHMENT TO WHICH A SYNTHETIC FIBRE WARPING ROPE HAD BEEN HOOKED FAILED, AND BECAUSE OF THE ELASTICITY OF THE ROPE, THE HOOK CATAPULTED.
+OPERATORS AND CREWS OF LOCAL CRAFT ARE STRONGLY ADVISED NEVER TO USE SUCH HOOKS FOR TOWING PURPOSES BUT TO USE SOFT EYE SPLICED ROPÉS PASSED OVER SUBSTANTIAL BOLLARDS FOR MOORING OR WARPING, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
+EXTRA PRECAUTION SHOULD BE TAKEN WHEN SYNTHETIC FIBRE ROPE IS USED IN OPERATIONS SUCH AS MOORING, WARPING, TOWING AND TRAWLING.
+BECAUSE OF THE IMPOSED LOADS, SUDDEN FAILURE MAY CAUSE DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY DUE TO THE 'WHIP LASH' EFFECT OF A PARTED SYNTHETIC ROPE, HE SAID.
HE STRESSED THAT AT ANY TIME WHEN A ROPE IS UNDER LOAD, MEN ESSENTIAL TO THE OPERATION SHOULD AS FAR AS POSSIBLE BE IN A PROTECTED POSITION AND OTHERS SHOULD KEEP CLEAR OF THE AREA.
IMMEDIATE ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN TO REDUCE THE LOAD SHOULD SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE STRAIN APPEAR IN ANY PART OF THE ROPE SYSTEM, HE SAID.
COPIES OF A NOTICE ENTITLED +USE OF SYNTHETIC FIBRE ROPES FOR MOORING AND TOWING+ ARE OBTAINABLE FREE OF CHARGE FROM THE DEPARTMENT'S HEAD OFFICE IN CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL AND FROM ANY OF ITS DISTRICT MARINE OFFICES.
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