A Transeuropa crew has been criticised in a UK accident report for regularly leaving a ferry’s watertight doors open at sea.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) said VDR data showed that many of the 12,100-gt Eurovoyager’s doors were “routinely” left open, which potentially compromised the vessel’s watertight integrity.



In a report into an accident involving a crewman becoming trapped in one of the doors, it added: “Remote control had been selected on this occasion to ensure that the doors remained closed while a Belgium maritime inspector was on board conducting an EU ferry inspection.”



It found this contributed to the incident on 3 November 2008 when an engine room fitter was found trapped in a hydraulically operated steel watertight door in a machinery space on the 1978-built ship.



The fitter was released from the door by the duty motorman and was airlifted to hospital after the ferry arrived in Ramsgate from Ostend.



He was treated for crush injuries and was not expected to be able to return to work for at least 6 months.



A number of factors contributed to the fitter’s entrapment:



  • The door’s rate of closure was almost three times faster than allowed on board newer vessels.
  • The fitter could not have followed the recommended transit procedure when passing through the watertight door.
  • Contrary to Solas requirements, the watertight door was in “remote” and closed automatically as soon as its operating handle was released.
  • There was no indication at the door to show that remote operation was selected.
  • On board procedures for the operation of watertight doors were poorly promulgated and were not monitored or enforced.


MAIB wants European Union and Solas guidance on watertight doors harmonised.



A recommendation has also been made to Transeuropa, based in Slovenia, aimed at improving its crews’ compliance with the procedures for the operation of watertight doors within its fleet.