Working Conditions Aboard the Laureline

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has released a comprehensive investigation report detailing a tragic accident that resulted in the death of a crew member on the 'Laureline', which occurred off the coast of Purfleet on July 13, 2024, at approximately 5 p.m. The incident involved the crew member being fatally crushed between a moving trailer and the vessel's structure during operations at port while loading and unloading trailers using tugs operated by shore workers under crew supervision. According to the MAIB's findings, the crew member believed it was safe to pass behind the trailer, not realizing that it was still being maneuvered. Consequently, the tug driver was unaware of the crew member’s presence and inadvertently reversed the trailer to reposition it. Although the vessel's operators had implemented a new safety protocol for vehicle deck operations, significant gaps in training and understanding among the crew were evident. Many crew members working on the vehicle deck frequently entered hazardous zones around moving vehicles without adequate knowledge of the dangers involved. Furthermore, the tug driver's awareness regarding danger zones and the necessity to halt operations when a crew member was out of sight did not match their actual working practices, leading to ineffective supervision on the vehicle deck. The management company of the vessel failed to provide sufficient assurance that the new safety measures were fully understood and implemented aboard the 'Laureline'. The MAIB also highlighted that existing industry guidelines regarding Ro-Ro vehicle deck operations wrongly assumed that drivers rely heavily on marshallers for safe trailer positioning and would stop their vehicles if they lost sight of them. The MAIB had previously addressed a similar incident aboard the 'Clipper Pennant', leading to a recommendation for the UK Chamber of Shipping and Port Skills and Safety (PSSL) to develop a cohesive industry code of practice for vehicle deck safety on Ro-Ro vessels. This latest investigation has resulted in an updated recommendation that includes enhanced safety considerations stemming from the incident aboard the 'Laureline'.

On April 5, 2019, the cargo vessel 'Laureline' experienced an allision with bollards while departing from the bustling port of Dublin. The incident resulted in noticeable damage to the ship's starboard quarter, including dents and a breach above the waterline. The 'Laureline' had arrived in Dublin the previous evening, April 4, at 8:50 PM, as part of its regular Zeebrugge-Dublin route. After undergoing necessary repairs, the vessel was able to depart Dublin on April 7 at 2:45 AM and successfully reached Zeebrugge by 1:30 PM on April 8. For more details, you can view a photo of the incident at http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=2989150.

Dublin Port has unveiled the arrival of the MV Laureline, a newly constructed Ro-Ro freight ferry from CLdN, the Luxembourg-based shipping company renowned for its 'Brexit Buster' vessel, the MV Celine. This new addition to the fleet bolsters the direct freight service connecting Dublin Port with major Continental European ports such as Zeebrugge and Rotterdam. Making her inaugural arrival overnight, the MV Laureline is now recognized as the second-largest freight ferry servicing Dublin Port, after its sister ship, the MV Celine. The MV Laureline is scheduled to set sail from Dublin Port later today, March 29, 2019, en route to Zeebrugge, marking a significant enhancement in cargo transportation options between Ireland and mainland Europe.