201130 Injury caused by sliding gangway section

Edited from IMCA Safety Flash 15-09

The bosun and an able seaman (AB) lowered and extended the vessel's double-sectioned gangway prior to berthing. All the locking pins were in place, in accordance with onboard procedures (see photos right). However, during the final approach to the berth, the bridge informed the crew that berthing plans for the vessel had changed, requiring the use of a different means of access. Crew were instructed to recover the now partly-deployed gangway. The retraction procedure for this double-sectioned gangway normally requires the end of the gangway to be landed, allowing tension to come off the fall wires, after which the locking pins of the extendable section can be easily released. The extendable section is designed to then slide back over the main section and the combined ladder is raised to the stowed position.

In this case, the bosun and AB overlooked the correct procedure and attempted to retract the extendable section by releasing the locking pins with the gangway still hanging and inclined overside and the fall wires under tension. With both the crewmembers standing above the extendable section, the AB first removed the inboard pin, which was not under stress. When he found the outboard pin jammed, he used a crowbar to lever off the extendable section of the gangway to loosen the pin. This action caused the pin to suddenly jump out, and the extendable section of the gangway slid rapidly upwards, trapping both the Bosun and the AB by the legs in the recess between the gangway steps. Realising the emergency, other crew members rushed to the site with a portable lever hoist (chain block) and managed to relieve the stress and free the trapped men. The AB suffered a serious fracture of the leg and was disembarked to a hospital ashore.