Background

The Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA) has received a report of a serious personal injury caused by use of a line thrower on board a vessel.

During use, the line thrower exploded in the hand of the person operating it. The explosion caused parts of the device to be forcefully scattered across the vessel. The operator sustained severe lacerations and fractures to the arm and wrist. A person standing nearby suffered head lacerations.

The cause of the explosion has not yet been determined. Prior to use, the cap and foam ring, as well as the red cap covering the rocket, were removed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. The line thrower was within its stamped expiry date.

The device is wheel-marked and of type JH7-230-91 NINGBO ZHENHUA. DNV Approval/ Cert.no: MEDB00006VB. Batch NO 22-I-04-26

The line thrower lacks sufficient external labelling with clear and detailed instructions for use. To obtain full safety guidance, one must read instructions printed both inside and outside the device. Only the instructions for removing the white plastic cap and foam ring are printed externally, while the instructions for removing the red plastic cap over the rocket are printed internally. This incomplete labelling has been used for other batches of the same model.

The first photo shows a line thrower from the same batch.
The second, third and fourth photos illustrate the sequence of events.
The final photo shows some remains of the damaged line thrower and an unused device.

Corrective measures

Line throwers from the mentioned batch must not be used. Vessels carrying such devices must deliver them to an approved facility for destruction.

Line throwers of this type (regardless of batch) have insufficient usage instructions. Vessels carrying this type must contact the supplier and replace it with another wheel-marked line thrower.