Dangerously Weighted Heaving Lines

AntarcticPilot said:
It would help if they defined what they mean by dangerously weighted heaving lines, with examples. At what point does a usefully weighted line become dangerous?
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Unless I have misunderstood, the definition attached to the notice makes it clear - a monkeys fist comprised of the rope of the heaving line is allowed - anything additional is prohibited. There is no such thing as your suggestion of "usefully weighted".
 
"All stakeholders can play an important role in preventing the use of anything other than a rope monkey’s fist or alternative soft safety pouch. By promoting and raising the issue with all parties with a vested interest bad practice can be eliminated"

This is old news, I'm afraid.

A safety bulletin released by the MCA in 2015 (appended to this Notice) highlighted the increased risk and use of weighted heaving lines that had resulted in serious injury to port personnel. Within that bulletin vessel Masters were reminded that the use of dangerously weighted heaving lines in the UK may result in prosecution.
An updated joint industry statement on dangerously weighted heaving lines (DWHL), first published in July 2019 (link below) has been released against the continued illegal use of DWHL in UK ports and harbours.

Most harbour BF the Notices to continue to remind Masters of the rules. See some examples: https://www.portskillsandsafety.co.uk/files/2021-03/Joint Industry Second Notice Against DWHLs - March 2021.pdf
 
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Blimey ... this has been situation for many years ... DECADES !!

If you went into an Australian Port and threw a 'weighted heaving line' ..... usually a Monkeys Fist with a stone inside or been left in a pot of paint to add weight .......... the Dockee would whip out a knife and cut it off - OR if no knife - throw the line into the water .....
Imagine the trouble then trying to get messenger line ashore for mooring lines - but Dockee rejects your line .... ships nightmare.

Over time Monkeys Fists were replaced with little sand bags ... and heaving distance became a problem.

In all the years at sea I had .. everytime a heaving line was used - first was to make sure everyone on other side KNEW it was coming ...
When I read of events with Heaving line incidents - near all were due to dockee or other NOT heeding the warning.

To author of Post #2 .... this is no April Fools.
 
Kelpie said:
When I was fish farming, I just assumed that trying to hit site staff with a mooring line with a shackle on the end was the national Norwegian sport.
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Having gone through various forms of getting lines across between ships .... (one ship transferring cargo to another - termed STS).

Weighted Monkeys Fist Heaving Line
Small Sand Bag on line
Plain rope Monkeys Fist

but the weirdest :

303 Rifle ... yes a Lee Enfield 303 ... modified to have a rod down the barrell and a Y yoke to 'rocket line'. Now THAT WAS DANGEROUS.

Old fashioned rifle based Rocket Line
replaced by the self contained plastic drum type.

The 'fired' lines went out of use and all back to manual heaving lines.

Best I ever saw was when I was Chevron at Pascagoula, Miss. We were a 40,000 MT vessel taking cargos from 300,000 ... 400,000 ton vessels into the refinery.
Philipino crew. One guy had the greatest range I have ever seen a line go ...

Standard heaving line, plain fist on end. He'd lay out about 1.5m and start swinging it round above his head ... as it went round - he'd feed in a bit more and bit more ....... till it was about 6 - 7m like a helicopter ..... WOMP WOMP WOMP as it went round - then he'd let her fly ...... amazing distances.
 
Refueler said:
Having gone through various forms of getting lines across between ships .... (one ship transferring cargo to another - termed STS).

Weighted Monkeys Fist Heaving Line
Small Sand Bag on line
Plain rope Monkeys Fist

but the weirdest :

303 Rifle ... yes a Lee Enfield 303 ... modified to have a rod down the barrell and a Y yoke to 'rocket line'. Now THAT WAS DANGEROUS.

Old fashioned rifle based Rocket Line
replaced by the self contained plastic drum type.

The 'fired' lines went out of use and all back to manual heaving lines.

Best I ever saw was when I was Chevron at Pascagoula, Miss. We were a 40,000 MT vessel taking cargos from 300,000 ... 400,000 ton vessels into the refinery.
Philipino crew. One guy had the greatest range I have ever seen a line go ...

Standard heaving line, plain fist on end. He'd lay out about 1.5m and start swinging it round above his head ... as it went round - he'd feed in a bit more and bit more ....... till it was about 6 - 7m like a helicopter ..... WOMP WOMP WOMP as it went round - then he'd let her fly ...... amazing distances.
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Standard practice for NATO Underway Replenishment at Sea (RAS) Gunline attached to heavier messenger line etc. Brits. Used 303 then SLR then SA80. Steel rod described was replaced with a plastic projectile. Only dangerous if you didn't take cover!
 
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