GovWire

Today, we have published our investigation report into the fatal crush accident to Kazimierz Ptak, a Polish national working as bosun during cargo operations on board the roll-on/roll-off cargo vessel Clipper Pennant.

In a foreword to the report, the Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents, Andrew Moll OBE, said:

This accident serves as a tragic reminder of the inherent dangers of people and vehicles operating within the same area. Ferry vehicle decks continue to be a hazardous environment and while the risks are well known this has not prevented the deaths of several crew and port workers across Europe, some of which are documented in this report. This investigation again exposes routine divergence from safe working practices on vehicle decks due, in part, to procedures and guidelines that do not align with or reflect actual work practices.

The companies involved in this accident have taken numerous actions to improve safety following this accident, including an extensive review of vehicle deck practices, but despite these efforts, tragically, another crew member was fatally crushed earlier this year in a similar accident on board the ferry Laureline. It is not enough to develop procedures that look good on paper; they must be practicable, followed, and properly supervised.

It is no longer tenable for the industry to continue operating in the current manner and decisive action is needed to protect workers on ferry vehicle decks. Consequently, I have recommended that industry organisations develop a unified Code of Practice for vehicle deck safety on roll-on/roll-off vessels and that regulators review and amend their codes and guidelines to align with industry derived best practices.