Person overboard from passenger ferry Snowdrop resulting in recovery of a young child from the water

Location: Seacombe ferry terminal, River Mersey, England.

Published 23 January 2015
From:
Marine Accident Investigation Branch
Date of occurrence:
14 October 2013
Vessel type:
Merchant vessel 100 gross tons or over
Report type:
Investigation report

Accident Investigation Report 22/2014

Investigation report into marine accident including what happened and safety lessons:

Snowdrop.pdf (4,246.23 kb)

Summary

Photograph of vessel

Report on the falling overboard and recovery of a young child from the passenger ferry Snowdrop at Seacombe ferry terminal, River Mersey, England on 14 October 2013.

The key safety issues identified were:

  • A 3 year old child was rescued from the River Mersey by the ship’s mate after she fell over the upper deck guardrail of the ferry Snowdrop.
  • The location and design of the upper deck seating enabled the child to climb to the top of the guardrail.
  • The adults responsible for the child, allowed her to stand on the seating and were distracted prior to the accident occurring.
  • Measures in place to prevent passengers from standing on the seating proved ineffective.
  • Procedures to inform the Coastguard were not followed.

Published: 28 August 2014

Published 23 January 2015