Unsafe boarding of vessels
- Safety Flash
- Published on 6 December 2016
- Generated on 30 December 2025
- IMCA SF 33/16
- 1 minute read
The Marine Safety Forum (MSF) has published the following safety alert regarding recent reports of individuals boarding vessels by means other than via the gangway.
There are a number of similarities between the incidents experienced;
- The individuals doing this are not ship’s crew.
- The incidents were taking place when the vessel is either preparing to sail or is coming alongside.
- There was no gangway out at the time.
- Individuals were jumping aboard through open ship side doors.
During the most recent incident, a surveyor from a classification society boarded the vessel whilst it was still being made fast, having just come alongside. The side door had been open to facilitate monitoring of the launch and recovery of the rescue boat for survey purposes – however, the safety chain was across the space. The surveyor removed the chain and jumped from the quayside onto the ship. The aft mooring station had only just confirmed to the bridge the vessel was all fast, and the engines and thrusters were still running when the incident occurred.
The full report can be found here.
Related Safety Flashes
-
IMCA SF 04/16
5 February 2016
IMCA Safety Flashes summarise key safety matters and incidents, allowing lessons to be more easily learnt for the benefit of the entire offshore industry.
The effectiveness of the IMCA Safety Flash system depends on the industry sharing information and so avoiding repeat incidents. Incidents are classified according to IOGP's Life Saving Rules.
All information is anonymised or sanitised, as appropriate, and warnings for graphic content included where possible.
IMCA makes every effort to ensure both the accuracy and reliability of the information shared, but is not be liable for any guidance and/or recommendation and/or statement herein contained.
The information contained in this document does not fulfil or replace any individual's or Member's legal, regulatory or other duties or obligations in respect of their operations. Individuals and Members remain solely responsible for the safe, lawful and proper conduct of their operations.
Share your safety incidents with IMCA online. Sign-up to receive Safety Flashes straight to your email.