Be in control of safety when transferring persons at sea 

During the transfer of a crewmember in the roads of Copenhagen on 1 February 2010, he fell into the water and was lost. The crewmember was boarding the ship from a small transport vessel by means of the pilot ladder. The details of the accident are still unknown, but they are being examined by the Division for Investigation of Maritime Accidents.

The accident gives rise to clarifying some important measures to be taken when persons are being transferred at sea. If you observe these measures, you help ensure that the transfer is carried out in a safe manner. At the same time, it is important to stress that the necessary safety equipment must be in proper order and be used during the transfer.

The Danish Maritime Authority has drawn up the following list of conditions that should, as a minimum, be considered every time a person is to be transferred at sea.

Preparation:

• Is it necessary to carry out the operation at sea?
• Is the crewmember physically and mentally capable of carrying out the transfer?
• Are the conditions of weather and wind suitable for a safe transfer?
• Is the operation and the way it is carried out agreed and understood in every necessary detail by those involved on board both the transport vessel and the embarked/disembarked ship (the ship)?
• Is it possible to position the ship appropriately so that it provides shelter during the transfer?
• Is the transport vessel suitable for the task; is it, for example, fitted with a fixed platform with railings where the person can be accommodated safely and from where the embarkation can take place without any risk that the person falls into the water or gets jammed between the two ships?

Practical carrying out:

• Are all outdoor surfaces being used for the transfer non slippery, free of ice, snow etc.
• Does the conning position in the transport vessel provide a sufficient view of the area from where the transfer is to be made?
• Is the area from where the transfer is to be made sufficiently lit?
• Does the ship use a ladder, gangway, etc. suitable for the purpose and have they been fitted correct?
• Are gangways used at passages exceeding 9 metres?
• Are lifebuoys located in an easily accessible position at the place of transfer in both the transport vessel and the ship?
• Are crewmembers ready to provide assistance, both on board the transport vessel and the ship? Are the crewmembers on board the transport vessel who provide assistance during the transfer fitted with a suitable working lifejacket, and has it been considered whether they should also be fitted with a suitable immersion suit or protective suit, in consideration of the season and other conditions?
• Has it been considered whether assisting crewmembers should be secured by means of a safety line, in consideration of the arrangement of the working vessel, the conditions of the transfer and the conditions of weather and wind, etc.?
• Is the person transferred fitted with a lifejacket, and has it been considered – especially in connection with low water temperatures – whether he should also be wearing an immersion suit or protective suit of a type making a safe transfer possible?
• Has it – depending on the conditions – been considered fitting the person to be transferred with a safety line?
• Has it been agreed that luggage is transferred separately by means of a crane, line, etc.?

Emergency preparedness:

• Does the crew of the transport vessel have a size making it possible for it to both manoeuvre the vessel and rescue a person fallen overboard?
• Are the crewmembers on the transport vessel able to supplement each other and, if necessary, take over each other’s tasks?
• Are suitable technical facilities available on board the transport vessel for rescuing persons fallen overboard and is the crew trained in the use of these?
• Is the crew on board the transport vessel and the ship aware of – and trained in – the alerting of local authorities and other ships in the area in case a person has fallen overboard?