Snapped mooring line kills 1, injures 3 at Port of Longview
LONGVIEW, Wash. (AP) – Authorities say a longshoreman has died and three other people were injured when a vessel line snapped at the Port of Longview.
The Daily News reports 34-year-old Byron Jacobs of Longview died from blunt force injuries after he was struck by a mooring line that snapped in half as crews were moving a ship from one loading hatch to another.
The Cowlitz County Coroner’s Office says Jacobs died at the scene at 2:40 a.m. Thursday.
Port officials say the chief mate on the ship was also struck and is in critical condition at Southwest Washington Medical Center.
Officials also said another longshoreman and security guard sustained injuries that were not life threatening.
The MV ANSAC Splendor remains docked at the port.
The U.S. Coast Guard and Washington State Labor and Industries are investigating.
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Coast Guard news release:
PORTLAND, Ore. – The Coast Guard has launched an investigation into a serious marine incident that occurred at the Port of Longview Terminal 5, in Washington, early Thursday morning.
Investigators from Marine Safety Unit Portland have been at the scene of the incident since early Thursday morning where a mooring line parted killing one dockworker, seriously injuring the vessel’s chief officer and injuring two others.
Watchstanders from Coast Guard Sector Columbia River received the incident report from the captain of the motor vessel Ansac Splendor at 1:46 a.m., reporting that a mooring line parted while the vessel was shifting at berth to facilitate the loading of cargo.
“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased and injured including crewmembers and dockworkers,” said Capt. Thomas Griffitts, commanding officer Marine Safety Unit Portland. “The goal of our investigation is to find out what happened so we can prevent similar tragedies at this port and the other ports along the Columbia River.”
The Port of Longview shutdown operations for the entire port as a safety stand-down was put in place, which has allowed various federal, state and local agency investigations to take place.
The Coast Guard sent two investigators out to the scene and they are in the process of taking pictures, checking documents and checking line certificates.
