‘Smartphone zombie’ and ‘smombie’ are used in popular culture to describe pedestrians who walk slowly and without attention to their surroundings because they are focused on their smartphones. Seafarers are not immune from such effects and, although mobile telephones provide a ready means of contact with friends and family, their use on working decks and other workspaces on board ships is a distraction and is potentially hazardous. When the stern ramp is the only means of access for pedestrians and vehicles, it is clear in the applicable codes of practice that either a protected walkway or other means of segregating vehicles and pedestrians is provided. Procedures based on a policy of ‘see and be seen’ are fraught with danger. Painted walkways on vehicle ramps and decks that are not protected are liable to be encroached upon by vehicles and are not safe unless other measures to control pedestrian access and vehicular traffic are also implemented. They are even less safe if they are not used. Figure 1: Seatruck Progress with the semi-trailer and the third officer on the stern ramp Figure 2: Driver’s view ahead when pushing a semi-trailer Our accident investigation report is available at: https://www.gov.uk/maib-reports/accident-on-the-stern-ramp-of-the-ro-ro-freight-ferry-seatruck-progress-with-loss-of-1-life For all general enquiries: Marine Accident Investigation Branch First Floor, Spring Place 105 Commercial Road Southampton SO15 1GH Email iso@maib.gov.uk Enquiries during office hours +44 (0)23 8039 5500

Research and analysis

Safety flyer to the shipping industry - Seatruck Progress

Published 11 June 2020

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safety-lessons-staying-alert-to-hazards-on-ship-working-decks/safety-flyer-to-the-shipping-industry-seatruck-progress

1. Summary

Crew fatality during cargo discharge from Seatruck Progress, 15 May 2019

2. Narrative

On 15 May 2019, semi-trailers were being discharged from the Isle of Man registered ro-ro freight ferry, Seatruck Progress, in Brocklebank Dock, Liverpool, UK. The ferry’s stern ramp was the only means of access for vehicles and pedestrians. The vessel’s third officer, who was overseeing the cargo operations, was struck and fatally injured by a semi-trailer that was being pushed down the vessel’s stern ramp to the quayside (Figure 1). The driver of the tractor unit pushing the semi-trailer stopped immediately but the third officer was trapped between the trailer’s rear wheels and was pronounced life extinct by attending paramedics.

The third officer was talking on his mobile telephone and was facing down the ramp, away from the direction of the semi-trailer’s approach, when he was struck. He probably did not hear the trailer approaching amongst the noise from cargo operations on other decks, and he was standing away from a pedestrian walkway that was painted along the starboard edge of the ramp.

The tug driver was unable to see the third officer due to the semi-trailer blocking his view ahead (Figure 2) and he was not expecting any pedestrians to be on the stern ramp.

3. Safety lessons

‘Smartphone zombie’ and ‘smombie’ are used in popular culture to describe pedestrians who walk slowly and without attention to their surroundings because they are focused on their smartphones. Seafarers are not immune from such effects and, although mobile telephones provide a ready means of contact with friends and family, their use on working decks and other workspaces on board ships is a distraction and is potentially hazardous.
When the stern ramp is the only means of access for pedestrians and vehicles, it is clear in the applicable codes of practice that either a protected walkway or other means of segregating vehicles and pedestrians is provided. Procedures based on a policy of ‘see and be seen’ are fraught with danger.
Painted walkways on vehicle ramps and decks that are not protected are liable to be encroached upon by vehicles and are not safe unless other measures to control pedestrian access and vehicular traffic are also implemented. They are even less safe if they are not used.