200604 Fall from gangway

0220 Vessel all fast. Main shore gangway, which could only be moved up and down vertically and not horizontally, slewed in any other direction, lowered to correct height. Connecting gangway (sometimes referred to as an MOT gangway or formerly known as a brow) was placed on the main gangway
The other end of the brow was placed on the ship's rails and made fast there. The ship's safety net was used and a step ladder was made last to the ship's railings to facilitate the sale access on to the deck. A Iife buoy with a line was placed near the gangway. The gangway was manned at all times by a duty AB

 

0300 Commenced cargo operation. The vessel was informed there would be a stoppage in cargo operation at 0830 on account of a 'bore tide' passage al 0930, All safely checks were carried out prior to commencement and were satisfactory.
0815 One hour's notice tendered to engineer for preparing the engines.
0820 Cargo loading was suspended by terminal. The ship's manifold valve was closed
0830 Chicksan disconnected, Crew given 30 minutes' notice to stand-by on deck at 0900; manifold blanked off; ship's steering gear tried out
0845 Brow unlashed from the ship’s rails and shoved out on to the shore main gangway, assisted by the terminal operator, who was pulling it from his side on shore. It was left halfway on the main gangway with the other half left overhanging so that it had a 'see-saw' effect and would trip if someone overbalanced it. Also the access to the main gangway was not sealed, nor were there any warning signs posted or any barrier erected to deny access to the gangway
0900 Stations called fore and aft. Moorings tended and made light as required, Duty officer on poop deck for aft stations and chief officer on forward stations. No one was paying any particular attention near the gangway as it was located on main deck and out of view from aft stations and nobody was expected to visit the ship.
0918 Main engines tried out ahead/astern.
0920 One person from the Seaman's Club tried to board the vessel, in spite of having been warned by the terminal operator (in his native language) against doing so. This caused the brow to over balance and the man fell into the water along with it. The cadet saw this happen from the forecastle deck and raised the alarm. I immediately rushed to the spot and deployed the lifebuoy. Fortunately the ladder did not injure the man and he just dropped vertically into the water, nor did he get entangled with the net. He managed to haul himself on to the jetty foundation clear of the water.
0925 The ship's crew managed to haul the brow out of the water by means of ropes; port authorities and agent informed. Warm winter jacket and gloves were passed over to the unfortunate victim but he was a lucky man and he climbed on to higher supports underneath the jetty. Shore rescue squad on scene. Passed over hot flask of coffee to the man while rescue team were busy deciding on the next course of action.
0955 The 60-year-old casualty was finally removed from under the jetty by the rescue squad and taken to hospital for treatment for shock

 

 

 

Lessons learnt
1. Nothing should be taken for granted. In this case, the ship and shore took for granted that no one would visit the ship and so there was an air of complacency in that the brow was not properly removed, nor were there any notices put up warning visitors that. the gangway was not in place
2. Notices should always be displayed or the access sealed off to all visitors once the ship-shore access is compromised
3. The terminal operator was slack in his duty and was not able to impose his authority to halt the person from trying to board the vessel even after the warning that there was no proper access.
4. The person having been verbally warned, was apparently not paying attention or had other things on his mind which may have caused him not to take notice of the warning, Also the age-factor may have been the cause that hindered his hearing ability. Having said this, it was still the duty of the terminal operator to physically drag the man away from the gangway or remove him from the scene
5. As a duty officer at the time of the incident. I feel guilty and responsible for the accident in spite of the fact that the circumstances were entirely beyond my control
6. The quick and prompt action taken by the ship staff, and also the fact that the person was not injured, helped to resolve the situation and bring it under control and get the man out of water.
7. The response of the rescue personnel was satisfactory but could still have been improved, as it took 30 minutes from the time they arrived on-scene to the time they finally managed to remove the person from underneath the jetty.
8. Fortunately for the man, he was not injured, not even a scratch, as this accident could easily have cost him his life