200735 Pilot ladder injury

At a major European port, a lubricating oil delivery barge was approaching a large ship lying alongside and working cargo. As is customary, the barge skipper expected the ship's crew members to be ready on the offshore side to pick up the barge's mooring lines and secure them on deck. However in this case, the skipper saw no crew members on the deck of the receiving ship and sounded several blasts on his horn to attract attention. After 15 minutes had elapsed without any response, the barge crew decided to moor the barge themselves. A barge hand from the barge attempted to climb up a pilot ladder which was rigged on the offshore side of the receiving vessel. To do this, he climbed on the railing on the barge's upper main deck, grabbed the pilot ladder and stepped on one of the lower steps. (See photograph below). When he transferred his weight on to the ladder, it suddenly ran out by about one meter. Instinctively, the barge hand jumped down on to the barge's lower main deck, located about 1.5 metres below. He landed awkwardly on one foot and sustained a broken heel. It is suspected that the pilot ladder was secured but pulled up about one metre and left with loose (unseen) slack on deck. The sailor was quickly taken ashore and given hospital treatment.

Root cause/contributory factors
The barge crew boarded the seagoing vessel without permission and without checking that the ladder was safe to use.
The receiving vessel left the pilot ladder in a dangerous position, with slack on deck.
Perceived commercial pressure on the oil barge crew to get the job done.

Lessons learnt and recommendations
Barge managers must provide clear procedures regarding pilot ladders to their crews.
Receiving ships must be given reasonable notice and clear instructions for crew to provide safe access and to make arrangements for safe berthing under the supervision of a responsible officer.

Editor's note: An efficient all-round lookout by all available means is vital, not only when under way or at anchor but, as this case shows, even when alongside. It is unfortunate that none of the ship's crew responded to the sound signals from a supply barge at close range and bringing supplies that were expected. Additionally, leaving a secured pilot ladder hanging over the side is clearly a breach of the ISPS Code and leaving a slack length on deck is very unseamanlike and irresponsible. Looking at the photograph, the barge hand could have easily fallen in the water between the ship and the barge and could have lost his life.

 

The barge hand attempted to get on the pilot ladder from atop the railing and fell on to the lower main deck when the ladder suddenly paid out.