Real Life Accident: Ship’s Master Dies After Falling from Gangway
The small general cargo/container vessel arrived in the port of Townsville after a voyage from Papua New Guinea. The voyage had been at reduced speed due to machinery problems. It had no cargo to discharge and remained in Townsville to complete repairs.
For the next few days the ship was still lying at no. 6 wharf in Townsville, awaiting spares for the main gearbox. The 53-year-old Master was due to pay off from the ship in couple of days to return to his home in Denmark for leave.
On one evening, he and his friend of long standing, the Chief Engineer, went ashore for a farewell dinner. They started the evening with drinks at an hotel near the docks, then went into town for dinner and finally to another hotel before returning on board Arktis Grace at about 21:45 that evening.
The Chief Engineer boarded the ship first, while the Master paid the taxi driver. Shortly afterwards, the crew heard a loud crash and felt the ship shudder. The gangway was found tipped on its side and the Master was seen floating face down in the water between the ship’s side and the wharf.
The Chief Engineer and a crew member jumped into the water in an attempt to save him. The Master was a big man weighing about 140 kg and, despite their efforts, he was later found to have drowned.
Conclusion
These conclusions identify the different factors which contributed to the circumstances and causes of the incident and should not be read as apportioning blame or liability to any particular organisation or individual. It is concluded that:
1. The Master of ship died by drowning, after falling from the vessel’s gangway into the gap between the ship’s side and the wharf.
2. The hand-ropes of the gangway were sufficiently slack to allow the Master’s centre of gravity to move outside the edge of the narrow gangway and for his weight to tip it over.
3. The hand-ropes had not been tended and tensioned regularly by the deck watch as the vessel rose and fell with the tides.
4. The Chief Engineer and the ordinary seaman in the water did all they could to try to save the Master.
5. There was an excessive delay before an ambulance was called, explained in part by the fact that none of those on board knew the emergency number to call, and the number was not displayed in a prominent position adjacent to the telephone.
6. The Inspector considers that the consumption of alcohol in the hours preceding his death, which led to an apparent blood alcohol level of .291%, was a significant factor in the impairment of the Master’s sense of balance on the gangway.
7. Had a safety net been rigged underneath the gangway, as required by the Port of Townsville By-laws during the weeks immediately preceding the incident, it may have prevented the Master from falling into the water.
References: nautinst
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Terrible …Terrible what happened to the captain … I had my boyfriend a captain of holland … not exactly what happened to him, the sailing boat in the Caribbean named m / v Merwe Trader- captain Jetze De jong *** in 2011 … and appeared a picture of him with a large scar on his head, I am very worried: ( I do not have answer from him it..all
This is sooo sad.May his soul Rest in Peace.
Seafarers should also pay attention to their health as the gain extreme weight whilst on board.
Its sooo sad news to hear a drowning of Master in Townville
The Gangway staff should keep the Gangway Watch properly and once the vessel was laid for repair Duty Staff must keep visual watches around the vessel, The Master /Chief Officer himself should have make sure of Gang Way safety Net .We only keep these when P.S.O. visit the vessel
Safety Net is the only solution to prevent such disasters. Seamen should not ignore such safety measures. Also, such Safety Nets should be regularly checked. There is very little chance of any person saving when they fall between the Jetty and the Vessel.
I remember once there was a case in Kandla Port wherein the Surveyor was accidentally drowned
This is total disaster….. May Captain’s Soul rest in Peace.
A death of a seaman is always tragic as is the death of any person and nothing I say here will reverse the fatal death of this Master.
Let us get back to basic safety, firstly the represented photograph is of an incorrectly rigged “Accommodation Ladder” and not a “Gangway” as described in the incident report.
A gangway net was also not rigged this to me is poor seamanship and what if it had been rigged ? this is a prime example of the un endless question of the correct way to rig a gangway net – in this case which was obviously small gangway which toppled a net tight around the gangway would have been of no use, however a spread rigged net would have been better – taking care that the tension is correct since a neatly splayed net resting on the concrete berth is of no use, but it could have saved the Master falling into the water.
Far so often at sea (of which i spent 25 years of my life and am still involved in ship inspections) these maindain tasks of rigging gangway nets become complacent until a terrible tragedy like this happens.
Correct training and continuous emphasis on safety is of utmost importance, we work in a harsh environment that needs total attention from the seafarer and since the environment won’t look after us we have to do all in our power to look after ourselves and our fellow seafarers.
Sail safe
Yes A net would’ve saved his life… A properly rigged Net should always be on Any gangway… God rest his soul..
So sorry to hear about the passing of the master safetyi is something there is no substitute for… God rest his soul…