Britannia Club: Practical guide to safe and secure gangway operations

As informed, a gangway refers to a platform, a walkway or a ramp connecting the ship to land or other vessels and is used as a means of safe access for the crew. The gangway must be properly rigged and maintained to prevent accidents or injuries and to counter the movement from tidal streams, swell, cargo operations and surge movements caused by ships in the vicinity.

Legislation

Accommodation ladders and gangways fitted on ships constructed before or replaced after 1 January 2010, should, to the extent possible, adhere with the IMO circular MSC.1/Circ.1331 – IMO “Guidelines for Construction, Installation, Maintenance and Inspection of means of Embarkation and Disembarkation”. This circular should be referred to in conjunction with the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) regulation II-1/3-9 (Means of Embarkation on and Disembarkation from Ships).

Arrangement

Always ensure that each accommodation ladder is long enough. Even when tilted at its steepest working angle, its lowest platform must stay less than 600mm above the waterline, even when the ship is empty and at its lightest.

Moreover, the arrangement for the gangway should allow direct access between the ladder and the landing at the ship’s deck. The platform should be securely guarded by handrails and adequate handholds.

When the gangway overhangs the water in port, a net or suitable protection should be provided to prevent personnel from falling.

Cautionary notice

The maximum and minimum permissible designed angles of inclination, design and maximum load on the bottom end plate should be clearly displayed on each side of the gangway. Personnel embarking on the gangway should be aware of the maximum number of persons allowed on the gangway at any one time to avoid overloading. Additionally, if the maximum operational load differs from the design load, this distinction should be noted on the marking plate.

Gangway operations

The ship must actively engage with the local authorities, as they may interpret and enforce varying safety requirements related to secure methods of access. Accidents may occur while rigging the gangway, whether during the setup of stanchions or side ropes, especially when the gangway is overhanging the side, and the crew is working at height. Many ships now feature a gangway safety wire to which safety harnesses can be attached to, or they have fall inertia blocks, allowing for greater freedom of movement. Crew members’ safety harnesses should have a slightly taut safety line, rather than being fully slack. This slight tension can help prevent crew members from landing abruptly in the event of a fall, reducing the risk of severe injuries.

If the vessel is doing a ship-to-ship (STS) operation, the gangway should not be placed on a bulwark or on the side railing of the vessel, unless these structures are designed to have sufficient strength and can support the weight of the gangway.

As part of the installation process, a lifebuoy equipped with a self-igniting light and a buoyant line should be available for immediate use in the vicinity of the embarkation and disembarkation area.

Furthermore, it can sometimes be difficult when positioning the gangway on the pier, especially when there are bollards or other fixtures on the wharf. In such cases, all kinds of extensions, extra steps, small gangways, or portable walking bridges may be used to connect the gangway with the quay side. If these solutions are required, a risk assessment should be carried out and the solution approved by the master and in some cases, you may obtain class approval.

Gangway security

To effectively deter a stowaway, the vessel should conduct a thorough risk assessment to systematically address all the vulnerabilities on board and manage the likelihood of any security threats. Often, the gangway serves as the first line of defense against stowaways boardings and is regarded as the primary deterrent to stowaway incidents.

To implement the Ship Security Plan (SSP) and comply with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, ship crew members typically restrict access to the vessel to a single focal point – the gangway. They secure and lock all other unauthorised entry or exit points. The gangway becomes the primary access point, where the crew controls boarding and conducts security checks and routine inspections of baggage before allowing anyone on board.

Stowaways may sometimes attempt to gain access to the vessel by disguising themselves as stevedores walking up the gangway. Therefore, gangway access should be a priority and should be placed under round-the-clock watchful eyes of gangway watchkeepers to check the visitor’s photographic identification (ID). The Ship Security Officer (SSO) should verify visitors against the anticipated visitors list. If any unexpected visitors arrive, the SSO can identify them and take measures to prevent potential stowaway incidents. Additionally, conducting a practical headcount helps the SSO track the number of visitors on board at any time.

Prevention is the primary strategy, but the security level at individual ports may require a combination of watchkeepers, shore-based security personnel, or gangway watchmen, especially at high-risk locations. Therefore, vessel operators should confirm requirements with local regulators and adapt to the specific demands of each port. Furthermore, adequate lighting at night is also crucial for gangway watchkeepers to monitor approaching small crafts or inconspicuous visitors. In practical terms, vessels may raise the gangway during low tides or when they have a low freeboard, if permitted by the port authority, to prevent unauthorised boarding.

While gangway watchkeepers stationed at the gangway could significantly reduce the risk of stowaways, it is also essential to recognise that security extends beyond the gangway. A more comprehensive approach, following the recommendations of IMO’s Resolution FAL.13(42) – Revised Guidelines on the Prevention of Access by Stowaways and the Allocation of Responsibilities to Seek the Successful Resolution of Stowaway Cases, may be adopted.

Potential hazards

Potential gangway hazards include:

• Loose handrails
• Insufficient lighting
• Wet and slippery surfaces
• Unsecured gangway netting
• Poorly positioned nets
• Falling off gangway or ladders
• Movements of the gangway
• Being struck by moving materials