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Marine Safety Information Letter No. 11/16

Collapse of the platform and gangway

Place du Centre
200 Promenade du Portage, 4th Floor
Gatineau QC  K1A 1K8

Safety advisory letter no. 11/16
Related occurrence: M16C0146

Letter addressed to the Municipality of Sainte-Rose-du-Nord, Sainte-Rose-du-Nord QC

Subject: Marine Safety Information Letter No. 11/16 – Collapse of the platform and gangway

On September 7, 2016, at Sainte-Rose-du-Nord, Quebec, the platform and access gangway connecting the dock and the floating pontoons collapsed while passengers were circulating on or near these installations (TSB Occurrence M16C0146).

Around 1130 EDT, the passenger vessel Fjord Saguenay II docked at the Sainte-Rose-du-Nord marina. The ship's chief officer authorized passengers to begin boarding; i.e. walking onto the platform, descending the gangway to the pontoon and reaching the dock. Around 1140, the platform detached from the dock, taking the gangway with it and dropping about 8 metres. Several passengers were injured during this incident.

The platform that connected the gangway to the dock was bolted using lag screws to a piece of treated wood, which was itself attached to the dock with bolts. The platform and the gangway were installed in the spring of 2011. The gangway was removed at the end of every tourist season, while the platform remained in place all year-round.

According to the information gathered during the TSB investigation, the piece of treated wood holding the lag screws was in poor condition and, as a result, the lag screws tore free from their foundation. Ever since the initial installation, there have been no maintenance or periodic inspections of this platform or of the attachment system. Our investigation was not able to identify any existing municipal or provincial regulation referring to the maintenance or periodic inspection of this type of installation during its life cycle.

This information is provided so that you can take whatever measures are considered appropriate in the circumstances. The TSB would appreciate being advised of any such actions. Moreover, an investigator may follow up with you at a later date.

Given that the safety issues associated with this incident were brought to your attention, an investigation report will not be published.

Original signed by

Marc-André Poisson
Director
Investigations – Marine

Cc.

General information

Occurrence No.

M16C0146

Contacts

Captain Steven D. Neatt, Regional Senior Investigator – Nautical, Central Region

Mr. Bernard Breton, Manager, Regional Operations - Central