Cross Currents88, based in the US, and Norwegian ship owner G2 Ocean have developed a simple and reusable product to prevent stevedores from falling through gaps in breakbulk stows. The product, called Spyder Netting, was recently awarded the ICHCA safety award at a ceremony held at Informa’s TOC offices in London. The annual safety awards, sponsored by the TT Club, featured 28 entries from 15 countries in categories such as Learning and Engaging, Safer Operations, Pedestrian/Machine Segregation, and Turning Data into Insight.
Spyder Netting is designed for use in ships transporting paper reels, certain types of pulp, and longitudinal loads with separation areas. It is simply rolled along the top of the stow or pulled across it with a sling and secured by the weight of the next load, acting as a safety net in cargo gaps. G2 Ocean, with the world’s largest fleet of open hatch vessels, has already implemented Spyder Netting which has proven to be a life-saving addition to their operations.
The steel construction version of Spyder Netting weighs around 78 lbs across a length of 90ft and a width of 127 cms, supporting weights of up to 100 kg. It is installed at 3m height intervals, minimizing falls to around 10ft. During a recent discharge operation in the Port of Livorno, a stevedore was saved from a 15m fall by the netting installed 8ft below the top of the stow. The team at G2 Ocean recognizes Spyder Netting as a crucial safety measure and plans to implement it in future breakbulk operations.
Innovation in products like Spyder Netting can drastically improve safety in breakbulk operations, which have remained unchanged for decades. Jan Andressen, HSEQ Manager at G2 Ocean, praised the product for its potential to save lives and enhance overall safety practices in the industry.
