UK MAIB report on Pelican of London accident

Earlier, our Dutch site Zeepost reported on the tragic drowning death of the relief cook on the Pelican of London. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch report provides valuable insights on how to prevent such accidents.

Late in the evening of 2 October 2023, the volunteer relief cook on the Pelican of London fell from the top of the ship’s gangway into the flooded dry dock while under the influence of alcohol. His absence was not noticed until the next morning and a search was launched. In the early afternoon of 3 October 2023, police divers brought the relief cook’s body to the quay where he was pronounced dead.

The investigation revealed that the gangway was not equipped to reach the Pelican of London safely, as the arrangement of the ropes and safety net did not prevent the relief cook from entering the water. The investigation also found that the relief cook was under the influence of alcohol when he fell and that risk assessments were inadequate.

Recommendations were made to the ship’s owner, Seas Your Future, to review and update the policies, procedures and training for rigging and approving the gangway arrangement; to update the drug and alcohol policy with specific guidelines for people returning on board after spending time ashore; and to revamp the risk assessments for safe means of access to ensure that the guidelines in the Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers1 are adopted.

The very readable report by MAIB, the UK’s OVV, can be viewed here.

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