The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has issued a safety warning after an articulated road tanker smashed through a ferry stern door while in transit.
The incident occurred on the 'Stena Voyager' shortly after the ferry had commenced a scheduled crossing from Stranraer, Scotland to Belfast, Northern Ireland.
The vehicle's semi-trailer came to rest on the vessel's port waterjet units though its tractor unit remained on the vehicle deck, as pictured above.
The ferry was quickly stopped and her crew were able to make the vehicle secure before returning to Stranraer.
Contrary to instructions posted on the vehicle deck, the vehicle's parking brakes had not been applied and it had been left out of gear. Although the vehicle had been lashed to the deck and its rear wheels chocked, this failed to stop it from rolling backwards upon acceleration.
As neither the lashing points on the ferry's deck nor those fitted to the vehicle accorded with the applicable international and national codes of practice, the crew were unable to lash the vehicle as required by the ferry's cargo securing manual.
The HSS 1500 vessels, of which 'Stena Voyager' is one, have experienced two similar incidents of freight vehicles rolling aft and damaging or crashing through the stern doors.
MAIB's report strongly reaffirms safety protocols in regards to parking brakes, correct lashing and positioning of chocks, maintainence of lashing, and the number of ferry securing rings fitted to the road tanker.
The report can be found at www.maib.gov.uk
