99015 Means of Access Unsafe
Means of Access Unsafe
Report No. 99015
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I was recently engaged to carry out an investigation in to the draught surveying practices in use by one of our sub contractors. The attached photograph shows the vessel we were going to survey.
Not only was "Safe Access" provided by just the pilot ladder, there did not appear to be any alternative as the gangway was completely missing. This was the only access provided during the vessel's stay in that port. It is not easy having to climb up ladders carrying the necessary equipment to carry out a draught survey.
Not only is it not easy, boarding via the pilot ladder can be dangerous. If all safeguards are not in place, things can go very wrong!!
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FEEDBACK
I am rather bewildered that your reporter suggests that a pilot ladder is not a safe means of access to a ship. After all, many pilots world wide board ships off ports by this method, although helicopters are becoming more common. They are also used by draft surveyors to read the offside marks and stern readings where launches are not available.
The reporter does not say why the accommodation ladder is missing, maybe it was damaged at the previous port or washed away at sea. I have experienced this in a North Pacific storm where not only was the gangway demolished but the lifeboat and davits located two decks higher were severely damaged and bent. Ships of today are basically rather cheaply constructed, the gangways are always housed outboard and, being of aluminium construction, easily damaged. In the old days, when there were larger crews, they were made of steel and often stowed inboard.
In many shipyards vessels are "double banked" and there is often no good access between them. The gangway or ladder is often an improvisation made of a plank leading from one ship to another (see MARS 97008, SEAWAYS April 1997 - ed.). Very often getting across could be a hazardous business with only a scruffy looking manrope to hold on to and carrying a briefcase and a bag of clothing. Wearing non skid, heavy duty shoes was a must. In winter, with ice and snow on the gangplank it was a sheer balancing act at times. On one occasion, myself and a colleague decided that it was too much of a risk and waited until they made a crane and a cage to lift us on board the outside ship.
On other occasions, I have had to be lifted on board by hanging on to a grab hook dangling from the mother ship's cranes whilst working at an offshore loading facility to be landed on the deck of the export vessel. This could only be done when both ships were fairly steady and not rolling. Pitching and yawing had no effect but if the ships swung to the tide and started rolling, one could be trapped on board for hours.
