We're told by a close friend on scene, that around noontime today an accident occurred at Houston port aboard the C/V HS ROME.
Preparing to work the forward end of the vessel, longshore workers were in the process of discharging one of the twist lock bins to the dock. In what appears to be a case of trying to get through a doorway without first opening the door, the twist locks securing the bin to the hatch cover had not been released.....
The result: The hatch cover went up with the bin.
Semi-automatic twistlocks have a surprisingly robust working load, but not equal to the mass presented by the hatch cover. So, as you can see in the attached photo, the twist locks experienced their "ultimate load" in mid air. When they yielded, the hatch cover came smashing down to the deck; making it part way into the hold.
Happily, no one was hurt. That might have worked out differently, had the lid gotten further into the hatch and contacted some HazMat cargo stowed below.
Take the time you need to do it right! Rushing often leads to unwanted results and a mountain of regrets.
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