Ensure guarding is installed along the exposed soft stop of a gangway to prevent accidents. This modification was carried out on board a service operation vessel (SOV), but only after an accident had already occurred. The Nautical Institute describes the incident in a new Mars Report.
The Nautical Institute gathers reports of maritime accidents and near-misses. It then publishes these so-called Mars (Mariners’ Alerting and Reporting Scheme) Reports (anonymously) to prevent other accidents from happening. This is one of these reports.
An offshore windfarm SOV was positioned at a wind turbine generator (WTG). Waves of 3 metres and a swell of 2.8 metres were being experienced, but this was deemed acceptable. With the vessel in an optimal position relative to the connection point on the WTG and the prevailing weather, the gangway operator was given permission to make the gangway connection.
The gangway operator stood at the base of the telescoping access bridge and used the mobile remote control to operate the gangway and make the connection in the usual fashion. Due to the vessel movement, he had difficulty in making the connection and retracted the gangway to re-assess the weather conditions.
The weather conditions were determined to be within the capabilities of the gangway system and SOV, so a second attempt was made to connect. The gangway operator was again unable to make the connection and retracted the gangway. During this retraction, the telescoping section of the gangway frame travelled over the gangway operators’ right foot, trapping it, and causing a compound fracture of the foot.
Also read: Crew member crushes foot during acrobatic manoeuvre
Investigation findings
The investigation found, among other things, that the final section of the travel path (soft stop) for the gangway frame was not guarded. Additionally, the gangway operator’s training had reinforced the practice of standing on the Telescope Access Bridge platform or in the operator shelter during gangway connection attempts, thus normalising the operators to this practice.
Also read: Lack of physical barriers results in dredger’s master being crushed between crane and cargo hold
Changes made and advice from The Nautical Institute
- Guarding was installed along the exposed soft stop of the gangway to ensure a person cannot place their feet in the path of the retracting gangway frame.
- A physical barrier was installed at the base of the telescopic gangway section, which prevents the operator from encountering the gangway when it is fully retracted.
- Gangway operator training programme was updated with specific focus on entrapment and shearing potential areas on the gangway.
- Develop a set of sea state/vessel movement limits for gangway connections that the gangway operators can use as guidance to make an informed decision on when to stop the job, independent of the vessel’s station keeping abilities.
Also read: Finger crushed in windlass results in re-engineered pin that reduces risk
Mars Reports
This accident was covered in the Mars Reports, originally published as Mars 202455, that are part of Report Number 384. A selection of the Mars Reports are also published in the SWZ|Maritime magazine. The Nautical Institute compiles these reports to help prevent maritime accidents. That is why they are also published (in full) on SWZ|Maritime’s website.
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.
Also read: Crew member’s finger crushed when securing crane jib
