The UK MAIB has issued accident report regarding a fatality of shore worker while disembarking from passenger vessel Oldenburg in Ilfracombe harbour last August. The deceased man had been employed by Oldenburg’s owner as a shore-based rope handler and had gone on board the vessel to socialise with the crew before its departure from Ilfracombe.
Oldenburg was alongside the Outer Face berth, which was close to the harbour entrance and, after Nick had boarded, the vessel’s gangway had been withdrawn due to the vessel’s movement in the prevailing moderate swell.
The accident occurred as the crew member attempted to return ashore by walking through a main deck shell door, which had been left open and unguarded, and along the vessel’s external belting to a platform and steps on the quayside.
The vessel’s crew were not aware that he had intended to return ashore at that time or by that route, as no-one had previously attempted to do so. Following the accident the crew went to crew member’s aid but, due to his injuries, they were unable to recover him onto the vessel and he was lowered into the water to facilitate his retrieval by a lifeboat.
Tragically, the man died of his injuries shortly after arriving at a local hospital. The vessel’s owner undertook an internal investigation of the accident and has fitted barriers and signage to the vessel’s shell door openings to prevent unauthorised use. The owner has also introduced a procedure for monitoring visitors to the vessel.
- Despite the owner’s positive approach to safety, the hazards associated with leaving the shell doors open and unguarded when the vessel was alongside with no passengers embarked had not been recognised.
- The crew regarded the crew member as a co-worker who did not need to be supervised on board.
- Had a procedure for supervising visitors been in place, his movements around the vessel might have been more closely supervised and controlled.
For further details, please read the report
Source: The UK MAIB
