A recent fatal accident on board a roll-on/roll-off vessel in the UK has shed light on the ongoing safety concerns in the industry. The Malta-flagged roro Laureline was involved in an incident at Purfleet, England, where a crew member lost their life when they were crushed between a moving trailer and the vessel's structure.
The accident occurred while the ship was alongside, loading and discharging trailers using tugs driven by shore workers under the direction of the ship's crew. The investigation revealed that the deceased crew member had passed behind the trailer, likely assuming it was safe to do so because it had completed manoeuvring. However, this assumption proved fatal as the tug driver reversed the trailer, crushing the crew member against the vessel's structure.
The incident highlights a series of tragic vehicle deck accidents across Europe, with the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) previously investigating a similar accident on board Clipper Pennant in 2024. This resulted in a recommendation to develop a jointly agreed and consolidated industry Code of Practice for vehicle deck safety on roro vessels.
However, this new investigation has led to an updated and amended recommendation to strengthen the existing guidelines. The MAIB identified key safety issues, including inadequate training and implementation of the new procedure, poor communication among crew members, and ineffective supervision on the vessel's deck.
The incident also revealed that industry guidance on ro-ro vehicle deck operations relied heavily on a misconception about the drivers' reliance on marshallers to safely position their trailers. This lack of understanding led to suboptimal working practices, with tug drivers failing to stop when a crew member was out of sight.
Furthermore, the investigation found that supervision on the vessel's deck was ineffective, and the management company had not provided effective assurance to confirm that the new safety procedure had been understood or fully implemented on board. This lack of oversight contributed significantly to the accident.
The Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents, Rob Loder, stated that 'Laureline is the latest in a series of tragic vehicle deck accidents across Europe and is a stark reminder that procedural controls alone are not sufficient to protect workers on ro-ro vehicle decks.' He emphasized that improved training and better communication among crew members are essential to preventing such incidents.
The industry's failure to address these safety concerns has resulted in numerous fatalities, highlighting the need for urgent action. The updated recommendation emphasizes the importance of developing a unified Code of Practice for vehicle deck safety, one that takes into account the lessons learned from this investigation and previous accidents.
Ultimately, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks faced by crew members working on ro-ro vessels. It is imperative that the industry takes immediate action to address these concerns and implement effective safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The incident underscores the need for improved training and better communication among crew members to prevent such tragedies.
