Page 20 - CHIRP Annual Digest 2017

CHIRP Maritime

It is highlighted that the danger as reported is at the inter- bridge wing in the dark I was confronted by a platform approx-
face between the bulwark and the ladder, and that personnel imately 200mm off the deck - despite the yellow paint on the
must be able to safely transition between the two. edge it was almost invisible. Once on the platform I had the
coaming of the bridge at mid-thigh level as opposed to hip level.
The above article was published in MFB48 Being some 26m above the wharf, this was quite unnerving.

Article. 09 Upon stepping off and proceeding to the bridge during
berthing my foot slipped off the outboard edge. This was
Keeping an effective gangway due to the fact that there was a gap off approximately
watch – ISPS Code violation 200mm between the platform and the solid upright part of
the bridge wing.
OUTLINE: A report from a company where a ship’s accom- I am not sure why the ship was built with this platform - the
modation ladder submerged when left unattended. Officials only thing it appears to do is make it easier for a person to
trying to board were not impressed. fall off the bridge wing.

What the Reporter told us: The reporter passed the incident to Port State Control who
A vessel was starboard side alongside in port and had com- visited the vessel to follow up and conduct a scheduled
pleted loading operations. The crew were busy preparing for inspection. They commented that, remarkably, this ship is
a draft survey, cleaning hatch coamings and making other some 13 years old yet the matter has never been raised.
departure preparations. With no other available manpower, The International Convention on Load Lines 1966, Regula-
the duty AB on gangway watch left his station to attend to tion 25(2) Protection of Crew states that a minimum bulwark
ship’s moorings and did not heave the accommodation lad- height of 1000mm from the deck is required. With the addi-
der prior to leaving the site. When the Draft Surveyor tried to tion of the deck platform the height was reduced to about
board the vessel from the sea side accommodation ladder 880mm which does not comply with this regulation. The
(port side), he found that it was immersed in the water. vessel’s classification society also stipulate that for bridge
wings, freeboard decks and superstructure decks, the mini-
Gangways and accommodation ladders are to be attended/ mum height of bulwarks must be 1000mm.
monitored by a watchkeeper at all times. Should the watch-
keeper need to attend another job, he should inform the A deficiency was raised with a direction to comply with the
officer of watch and be relieved appropriately. The accommo- regulation as soon as practicable. Until then a risk assess-
dation ladder should not be left lowered close to the water ment must be completed with appropriate measures taken
when unattended. Additional crew should be called if required. to ensure there is no risk of falling or tripping hazard to any
persons occupying the area. The company’s port captain, on
In this case, the AB should have heaved up the accommoda- board at the time, agreed to follow up accordingly.
tion ladder well above water when leaving the site, since no
one else was available to help.

CHIRP Comment 200mm tripping hazard –
The Maritime Advisory Board commented that this was pri- 200mm gap gap in corrugated grating
marily a potential ISPS Code violation as opposed to a safety
issue. Apart from any possible mechanical failure, the ladder
must have become immersed earlier during the loading and
had not been effectively tended. At some point the ladder Non Load-Line Compliant
would have been in a position for anybody to board, without raised platform
the knowledge of the crew. Many ports are extremely strict,
and may issue fines for the poor control of ship’s access. It
is also highlighted that salt water immersion may result in
accelerated corrosion of the equipment.

The above article was published in MFB48
Tripping hazards on a bridge wing – height to coaming must
Article. 10 be a minimum of 1000mm
Watch Your Step!! Poorly CHIRP Comment
designed bridge wing platform The non-compliant design should have been identified in
a flag state survey. A risk assessment should have been
undertaken and a Management of Change process applied
OUTLINE: Poor design - a tripping hazard with the potential at the design stage. This should have been approved by the
for a fatal fall from height. ship managers. This report should raise the awareness of
all mariners about the need for a minimum bulwark height of
What the Reporter told us: 1,000mm, and the inherent dangers of tripping over obsta-
I piloted a vessel into port this morning. As I walked out to the cles at night.

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