Merchant Mariner Acting as Shoreside Signaler Fatally Crushed by Draft of Steel Plate [Douala, Cameroon – 11 December 2024]

Posted by admin on Dec 11, 2024 in Bulletins

Blueoceana Company has learned from a friend who often attends West African ports, that a Chinese national seaman who had come ashore to assist as a signal person in the discharge of several stacked pieces of steel plate was fatally injured when the draft came overhead, separated, fell and crushed him.

Please be warned that the video clip provided below is disturbing to watch. Those who are easily offended should not activate it.

We have not been provided the name of the ship discharging the cargo, but have been made to understand that contract stevedoring was being provided by EOLIS Cameroon.

The draft of sheet steel plate was being discharged by a shoreside mobile stick crane. For whatever reason, the merchant mariner is shown standing on and signaling from the deck of the flatbed truck waiting to receive the load.

As the load begins to pass overhead, the worker looks down and takes his eyes off the draft as it comes apart and crushes him.

There are several takeaways coming out of this lesson in awareness…. Think about them.