Rope ladders are often used to take the outboard draughts on large vessels, and pose a serious risk. Past incidents highlight the importance of following work procedures and using a personal flotation device (PFD). Yet, using a small boat instead of a ladder may prove the safer option.
The May Mars Reports emphasise the dangers of taking vessel draughts by rope ladder by focusing on two incidents. The first is centred around the two photographs on the right that were sent to Mars. For the aft draughts, a crew member can be seen being lowered over the side in a barrel via the ship’s stores crane. To take the draughts amidships, he has climbed down the pilot ladder and, now near the end of the ladder, is struggling to view the draughts below. The latter shows there is a clear risk of falling into the water.
Crew Member Dies while Taking Draughts
The second incident demonstrates just how serious a rope ladder accident can turn out to be. Here a crew member lost his life after falling into the water while taking a vessel's draft measurements. Although the accident happened nearly two years ago, the lessons that can be learned from it are still valid today as rope ladders are still being used by crews all over the world. A transcript of what happened:
On 29 September 2017, the general cargo vessel Amazoneborg, owned by Wagenborg Shipping and sailing under the Dutch flag, was docked at the Port of Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada. The vessel was preparing to load nickel concentrate. Before loading began, port state authorities inspected the vessel as per regulations for loading concentrates. An independent draught surveyor also boarded to conduct an initial draught survey before loading began.
Draught Surveys by Jacob's Ladder
Under his supervision, some crew descended the rope "Jacob’s ladder" to take the draughts amidships. (A Jacob’s ladder or monkey ladder is a flexible hanging ladder composed of vertical rope or chain and horizontal wooden or metal rungs of lightweight construction.) In this case, the crew descended the ladder to take the draught because the draught surveyor was not permitted by his employer to use such a ladder. Soon after the survey, the loading of the concentrate began.
After about fourteen hours of loading, and now in darkness, the duty deck officer was tasked with taking the draughts. He disembarked on the dock and took the three inboard draughts, reporting these via VHF radio to the vessel’s cargo officer. He then proceeded to take the outboard amidships draughts, descending the same Jacob’s ladder, which was still rigged amidships on the port side from the morning’s draught survey.
Man-overboard Alarm
The vessel’s cargo officer tried to contact the deck officer several times via VHF radio but received no response. Upon investigation, the duty officer’s PFD was found in his locker, but the officer was nowhere to be seen. It was now assumed he had fallen into the water and a man-overboard alarm was raised. Although the vessel’s crew searched with their rescue boat and other vessels were tasked as search and rescue (SAR) resources, searching the waters proved fruitless. The crew member’s lifeless body was found downriver about seven days later. An autopsy showed death by drowning.
Official Investigation Findings
The incident was investigated by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, which presented the result of the investigation in November 2018. The official findings were:
- The Jacob’s ladder was rigged to the guardrail in such a way that there was no safe means of access; to reach the ladder from the deck it was necessary to straddle and step over the guardrail.
- The Jacob’s ladder was unsuitable for the task of reading the midship seaward draught marks. The ladder was unsuitable for a number of reasons, not least the very small tread area available for a foothold.
- No one was aware of the third officer's actions, no fall protection system was used, and no one was present to initiate an emergency response when the third officer fell overboard.
- The lack of a personal flotation device diminished the third officer's chances of survival in the water.
Second Such Incident for Wagenborg
It is interesting that the official investigation report notes it was not the first time such an accident occurred on a Wagenborg vessel. Reference is made to a similar accident that occurred on 1 October 2016 on board the Reestborg. While reading the amidships seaward draft marks using a Jacob’s ladder, the third officer of the Reestborg lost his balance and fell into the water. His PFD inflated, and he was able to hold onto the ladder, call for attention, and climb back onto the ladder and then back on board the vessel. The third officer sustained minor injuries as a result of this incident.
Work Procedures, PFDs and Small Boats
Following procedures and taking protective measures reduce risk when taken draught measurements by ladder. The ILO’s Code of Practice "Accident prevention on board ship at sea and in port" states that persons working overboard should observe the following safety precautions:
- fall protection system and PFD to be worn;
- another crew member should supervise and assist as needed;
- lifebuoy with a safety line readily available; and
- risk assessment conducted and work permit issued.
To reduce risks of working overboard near the water line even further, a launch or small boat could be considered. It is both more stable and brings the observer to a safer position closer to the water line.
Mars Reports
This is one of the May Mars Reports, originally published as Mars 201930 and 201931, that are part of Report Number 319. A selection of this Report has also been published in SWZ|Maritime’s June issue.
Submit a Mars Report
More reports are needed to keep the scheme interesting and informative. All reports are read only by the Mars coordinator and are treated in the strictest confidence. To submit a report, please use the Mars report form and send it to mars@nautinst.org.
