200870 Gangway accidents

Recently we had two accidents involving shore personnel, due to improper maintenance and rigging of portable gangways.

On one of the vessels, even though the main gangway (accommodation ladder) was in use, a portable gangway, without proper guard rails, was temporarily rigged aft from the accommodation deck. This was to facilitate easy access for the ship's personnel to continuously monitor the after-draft while cargo loading was nearing completion. A stevedore used this access to board the vessel; however during his passage, some of the railings became dislodged due to their poor condition and caused him to fall and sustain severe injuries.

On another vessel, the portable gangway was half withdrawn and left unsecured while the regular gangway was being rigged. A stevedore, trying to disembark the vessel via the unsecured gangway, caused it to fall into the water, while he himself fell on to the wharf and suffered serious injuries.

It is the responsibility of the vessel to provide safe access at all times. Lack of maintenance or unsafe rigging of gangways will be construed as gross negligence on the part of the responsible officers on board.

Portable gangways must be used only after careful consideration. They must also receive the same level of safety precautions, inspections and maintenance as that given to the regular accommodation and pilot ladders. All repairs must be documented and the gangway must be tested after repairs, if practicable.