Safety warning issues to lorries using ferries

Following an incident where a number of lorries toppled over on a vehicle deck of the P&O ferry European Causeway on 18^th December 2018 ferry while at sea in heavy weather, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) have issued an urgent safety warning.

In the incident at least 6 drivers were still in their cabs despite having been instructed by staff to vacate the deck after they had parked their vehicles. Fortunately no one was hurt in the incident in which 9 of the 40 freight vehicles on board toppled over, however one driver was trapped and had to be freed by emergency services.

The MAIB are warning that while at sea, the roll on, roll off decks of a ferry should only be occupied by trained professional seafarers who are required to undertake safety and security patrols. drivers who remain on the vehicle deck pose a danger to themselves and can cause delay in emergency response. In particular drivers in vehicle cabs could be in danger of asphyxiation by fire, or asphyxiation as a result of the fire suppression systems that may be released by ship’s staff.

The full safety warning can be found on the GOV.UK website at: https://www.gov.uk/maib-reports/safety-warning-about-drivers-remaining-in-vehicle-cabs-while-ferries-are-at-sea