BRITANNIA LOSS PREVENTION SEPTEMBER 2024 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. GANGWAYS - A PRACTICAL GUIDE 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 1 . 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). 1 IMO circular MSC.1/Circ.1331 – Guidelines for Construction, Installation, Maintenance and Inspection of Means of Embarkation and Disembarkation 2 | BRITANNIA LOSS PREVENTION | GUIDANCE 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. 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. 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. FIGURE 1 Example of gangway notice MAXIMUM 5 PERSONS ALLOWED ON THE GANGWAY AT ANY ONE TIME 3 | BRITANNIA LOSS PREVENTION | GUIDANCE 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 ca