Many of these accidents have occurred during the handling of ropes/wires, where ropes/wires have parted (53%) or where ropes/wires have jumped/slipped off drum ends/bitts (42%) with 5% caused by actual equipment failure (see pie chart below centre).

Parted ropes/wires normally occur during general mooring, tug and ship to ship operations with equipment failure, misuse, wash damage and weather also playing a role. Injuries from non parted ropes/wires normally occur due to crew being caught up in ropes/wires and ropes wires slipping off and becoming jammed on drum ends during normal mooring operations.