Inquiry after Gozo ferry ramp rises with cars on it
Picture: Jan Zammit - [email protected]
Updated 2 p.m. - Gozo Channel said this afternoon that it would hold an internal inquiry after what it described as 'an unfortunate incident' late last night when the front end of a Gozo ferry ramp lifted while cars were being driven off last night.
The incident happened at 10.45 p.m. at Mgarr. No one was injured but three cars were damaged and two people appeared to suffer shock.
Gozo Channel in its statement apologised for the incident and the inconvenience it caused.
It confirmed that a mooring rope had broken, causing the vessel to move backward. The crew had taken immediate action to ensure passengers' safety.
This was how one of several readers who contacted timesofmalta.com described the scene:
"I was outside my car, waiting to board - the first few cars had already been driven off the ferry when noises of clanging metal and screams were heard and people ran to the scene.
"We saw two cars that had been jacked up by the final section of the ramp, which had folded back up to a vertical position. There was quite a lot of panic as the passengers had to be pulled out from the vehicles.
"I could not see what caused the accident in the first place but the crew asked passengers to stay away while the final section of the ramp was lowered to the normal position, scraping the underside of the the two cars before they fell back to a horizontal position.
"The ship was then moved a metre or so forward, and crew on the starboard side secured the mooring ropes at the front. One of the two cars was driven off the ship while the other had to be pushed. A third car suffered minor damage to its bonnet, probably from one of the cars jacked up by the ramp.
"Once these cars were moved out of the way, the rest of the cars on the MV Malita disembarked. It appears that no one was injured, but two persons, who were on the two cars directly hit (there were other persons at least on one of the cars) were suffering from heavy shock."
The reader said that some 15 minutes after the accident, one of the waiting passengers called 112, who were unaware of the accident. A lone policeman eventually appeared and tried to downplay the seriousness of the accident.
The reader said it was not clear who was in charge at the time - no one took clear responsibility to deal with the situation. Eventually, the crew started embarkation procedures for the return trip (operated by the same MV Malita, which left some 10 minutes late). At that point, one of the persons who had suffered from shock had been collected by family members, but the other person was still at the scene, and still traumatised by the event.
There was no official communication by the crew to the passengers and it was not at all clear how it was concluded that it was safe to use the same ramp to disembark the other cars or embark the cars on the return trip, the reader said.
Another incident involving the same ship occured on June 14. The Times had reported how the ferry ramp had been raised while people were still on it.
After that (June) incident Gozo Channel had said that from its initial enquiries it appeared that some passengers attempted to stop the MV Malita from departing by getting on the ramp just as it started being raised, apparently in order to delay the trip so that other passengers could board.
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128 Comments
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Kieron O'connor
Aug 26th 2012, 12:58
An Internal enquiry?
The vessels are lisenced passenger vessels, if an incident has occured which pertains to passenger safety then it should be investigated by the lisencing authority, Transport Malta.
The vessel should not have been even moved before the surveyors attended the scene of the incident to carry out the initial investigation.
david debattista
Aug 26th 2012, 11:00
God help us and they want a tunnel below the seabed ! typical .
rebecca watts
Aug 26th 2012, 12:26
I wouldnt worry if i were you,they'd probably only get about 3 meters into it before its scrapped like every other project on this island.
david debattista
Aug 26th 2012, 10:58
God help us and they want a tunnel below the seabed ! typical .
Mr M Spiteri
Aug 26th 2012, 09:00
The authorities should investigate including the police.
Raphael Dingli
Aug 26th 2012, 03:40
internal enquiry? why not external and independent. nothing changes!
Dominic Carbonaro
Aug 25th 2012, 23:55
Mhux l-ewwel darba u tnejn illi l-ekwipagg iwaqqfu il-karozzi jistennew fuq ir-rampa tal-vapur ghall xi raguni jew ohra. Jidher minn dan l-incident li meta iwaqqfu lill xi hadd jistenna bil-karozza fuq ir-rampa, L-istess ekwipagg ikun qieghed ipoggi f'riskju lill dak li jkun f'periklu serju jekk f'dak il-hin ifettillha tinqata ic-cima, bniedem jista jispicca jeghreq bil-karozza b'kollox f'kaz li jispicca il-bahar.
Il-management ghandu jassigura li qatt aktar ma jithallew vetturi jistennew fuq ir-rampa ghal-ebda raguni. Jekk xi darba xi hadd jghidli biex nistenna fuq ir-rampa u ipoggili perezempju dawk il-barriers sabiex nistenna kif gieli jaghmlu ser inkun l-ewwel wiehed li insuq ghal gol-vapur. Stennija fuq ir-rampa tfisser periklu.
Nittama li il-management jaghllem lill-ekwipagg biex minn issa il-quddiem ikunu aktar sensitivi u ma jhallux karozzi jistennew fuq ir-rampi ghal-ebda raguni.
Joseph Fenech
Aug 25th 2012, 21:28
Min kien involut fl-incident bil-karozza irid jispicca l-qorti biex forsi xi darba jiehu xi haga.Gozo Channel farsa shiha,haddiema bil-kemm jafu jiktbu isimhom,ahseb u ara l-passiggieri.Min juza s-servizz ikun jaf x'qieghed nghid.!!!! J'Alla min ikun fil-gvern fil-vicin jipprivatizza bis-serjeta dan is-servizz.!!!
David Farrugia
Aug 25th 2012, 21:26
Is there no insurance on these vessels? How can people trust Gozo Channel? He have no alternative but to swim across the channel. Banana Republic at its best. Transport Malta.....wake up please.
william cauchi
Aug 25th 2012, 20:56
An internal enquiry?? If damage is caused to the property of third parties and if furthermore this incident has endangered the public, then a inquiry by a magistrate is required by law. No more no less.
Anything else means that police and the authorities are skirting their responsibilities.
J. Tabone
Aug 25th 2012, 20:52
Great photo! I've seen the ramps to the shelves go down when people are still walking beneath them a few times... none were really close calls, but they certainly should have cleared the area properly first as they used to do more meticulously early on with the Malita. They've become very lax about using the equipment and it's unfortunate - because the service has improved in other ways and is now dealing with more passengers than ever.
Maria Vassallo
Aug 25th 2012, 20:37
Jew xi hadd/xi whud mhux/mhumiex professjonali;
Jew xi/xiwhud hu/huma ghajjiena jew aljenati;
Jew xi hadd/xi whud kien/kienu fi-sakra;
Jew kollox.
James Dewar
Aug 25th 2012, 20:08
AN INTERNAL ENQUIRY!? What is being hidden? Surely in the interest of safety and public confidence an independent enquiry is necessary.
B. Storace
Aug 25th 2012, 19:53
Typical inefficiency. You have to be a regular commuter to appreciate that this is the norm and not an exception. I always wonder at the logic the loading crew have......it's a wonder that the ferry does not capsize with the uneven weight distribution one sees daily. So many things are not so good but who cares??????
Lawrence Fenech
Aug 25th 2012, 19:33
It is interesting to note that the enquiry will probably be made by the Board of Directors of Gozo Channel. Well all know about these enquiries if it is similar to that carried on a Captain some time back.
Mr Ian Xuereb
Aug 25th 2012, 19:05
It was a technical fault. After all niether Govanna Debono nor any gozo channel emlpoyee has anything to do with the incident. Something went wrong with the computerised system of the ramp and it went crazy. After all a machine is a machine!!!! It was surley not a human error. So no one has to be blamed on it. Thanks GOD that no one was hurt.
rebecca watts
Aug 26th 2012, 12:39
I dont think something being wrong with the computerised system of the ramp and it going "crazy" is technically a valid term for, or excuse for such an incident.
'It confirmed that a mooring rope had broken, causing the vessel to move backward. The crew had taken immediate action to ensure passengers' safety.' .
So they upped the ramp, in a panick? or did they come up automatically because a mooring rope broke???
There should be a report and explanation provided. as you say thank God no one was hurt but does that mean it should be overlooked just because this time it wasnt fatal!
donald borg
Aug 25th 2012, 18:41
This is an insult that you say holding an internal inquiry. This means you will be judging yourselves for any failures.
I beg the Minister to hold an independent enquiry and make it public within a week. People should be respected and not treated like idiots. This incident could have been fatal. I ask why the Police not called to report the incident and see the mooring rope that broke. If two cars are involved in an accident the police are called and cars cannot be moved before the report.
Kevin Muller
Aug 25th 2012, 18:40
First of all, let's be happy that this mishap did not lead to a disaster. It's quiete concerning that incidents like this are happen on a daily base in Malta. Things are falling down from construction sites, cranes tumble over, people fall into shafts, because they are not protected in a proper way. All this shows, that this country is far, far away from any standards one will find abroad, especially other EU countries. What it lacks of is a culture of discipline and poper supervision followed by painful consequences for the culprits. As long this does not change, we will see things like this happen again and again.
F Galea
Aug 25th 2012, 18:13
Nota zghira fuq l-Gozo channel li m'ghandhiex x'taqsam ma dan l-artiklu. Hafna nies qeghdin iqabbdu l-karozzi u jixeghlu l-A/c ferm qabel ikunu waslu biex jimxu. Bil-konsegwenza taghhom is-shana fil-vapur toghla hafna u sewwieqa li jobdu r-regolamenti ikollhom joqoghdu fis-shana tal-karozzi li jqabbdu l-A/c... Din hija sitwazzjoni egoista minn nies irresponsabbli.
carmel cassar
Aug 25th 2012, 21:50
U hemm notice li tghid li ma tistax tistartja il karrozza, u hadd ma jati kaz, dan lispazzju mimli kummenti izda xorta hadd ma sejjer jiccaqlaq. This is Malta man.
Aldo Cini
Aug 25th 2012, 18:11
This is why we need an underwater tunnel to connect the islands: to get rid of Gozo Channel's monopoly, which causes the company to have such a cavalier attitude towards its customers. I bet if the passengers concerned had not reported this to the press, nothing would have happened... That is, I still don't think anything will happen. They'll just pretend to hold an inquiry!
V Mercieca
Aug 25th 2012, 19:14
why a tunnel and not a bridge?
There are longer suspension bridges then those needed to bridge the gap between Malta and Commino and Commino to Gozo
Eddy Privitera
Aug 25th 2012, 20:31
Aldo Cini: " underwater tunnel", much much easier said than done !
Philip Pace
Aug 25th 2012, 22:38
Easy, easy mate.
F Galea
Aug 25th 2012, 18:09
Fuq it-ticket tal-vapur tista' taqra 'You travel at your own risk'. Allura tal-Gozo Channel jistghu joqtluk u ma jkunux responsabbli...
cesco di luigi
Aug 25th 2012, 17:28
So while the wardens go around issuing fines to car owners with dusty windscreens we have this as though it's just a matter of course. TAJBA!!!!
Joseph N. Attard
Aug 25th 2012, 17:27
I am afraid that an internal inquiry is just adding insult to injury. If Gozo Channel has nothing to hide, it should be obvious that an independent enquiry is the only way to go. Otherwise, many will be justified in looking under the carpet. And what has the authority which is presumably responsible for the safety of the traveling public has to say about the matter?
Janet Bayes
Aug 25th 2012, 17:16
Quite scary that no-one took control of the incident, and no-one called the ambulance and the police.
As always, its closing the stable door after the horse has bolted, and crisis management rules again.
WHY WHY WHY do these forseeable incidents not have written risk assessment and procedures to be followed if they happen? If the procedures are there in writing why were they not followed?
THIS time no-one was killed.
Peter Borg
Aug 25th 2012, 17:00
An iternal enquiry ? You must be joking ! What is the likelyhood of an internal enquiry ensuring that whoever is responsable actually pays the price for his negligence ? It should be a public body that holds an enquiry and preferably one that still enjoys the respect and confidence of the general public.
cesco di luigi
Aug 25th 2012, 16:54
thank you all. Marsaxlokk campers, Air Malta, Gozo Channel MEPA .Franco Debono JPO..need I go on...for giving us such a widely entertaining summer season... Appreciated.
Tony Stivala
Aug 25th 2012, 16:32
Question why is it when the cars are being loaded onto the ferry there is the Master controlling things but you never see him when the fery is unloading?
Mr. Tyrell you are right in that Ferry should not have been moved before thoroughly examined, as for blaming it on electric fault !!!!! maybe, in UK they always blame it on human error
A Spiteri
Aug 25th 2012, 16:27
privatise Gozo Channel and liberalise the market!
paul camilleri
Aug 25th 2012, 15:04
i will say this only once and mark my words you will all agree. our transportation system by land or by sea is equivalent tothe train transport system in India, load as much as you can before leaving and dont bother about safty issues.
Joseph Sammut
Aug 25th 2012, 15:03
I think this calls for an inquiry by TM.
R Galea
Aug 25th 2012, 14:48
Giovanna's Channel needs competition!!!!! The company approaches issues way too lightly!
Ivor Ramsden
Aug 25th 2012, 14:36
" a mooring rope had broken, causing the vessel to move backward" If this was the cause of this event, why did it break? Was the rope damaged and if so, why had it not been replaced and why was it still in use? Or did the rope "fall off" a mooring bollard?
Will it take deaths before someone takes firm action to ensure the safety of the public?
wayne scicluna
Aug 25th 2012, 14:28
I wonder if compensation will be awarded for the damages sustained.....
K Mizzi
Aug 25th 2012, 14:21
inqata habel? F'dik il kalma? u ejja
j brincat
Aug 25th 2012, 14:15
Inquiries which inevitably lead to nowhere!
(jb)
Francis Farrugia
Aug 25th 2012, 13:46
As everybody knows these ramps are hand operated by Gozo Channel employes as this is a fact seen by everybody who will be disembarking from the ferries. So for me it is a man made fault and somebody has to answer. Remember that Gozo Channel states that It is not resposable for anything that happens to the vehicles while on the ferries.
jay smith
Aug 25th 2012, 13:04
"After that incident Gozo Channel had said that from its initial enquiries it appeared that some passengers attempted to stop the MV Malita from departing by getting on the ramp just as it started being raised, apparently in order to delay the trip so that other passengers could board."
omg just what inquire have you made gozochannel? look at the picture, even a child can see that cars and peaople were coming off the ferry and not on. wake up. if any cars went in the water, all people in those cars would have drowned. think someone pressed the wrong button here, while maybe having a chat with someone.
Eric Frendo
Aug 25th 2012, 14:03
omg
that is referring to another incident not this
Jonathan Barbara
Aug 25th 2012, 14:44
That part of the article was referring ot the June incident, not the one depicted in the picture.
Chris Coleiro
Aug 25th 2012, 15:13
Omg jay smith have you even read the article properly?? You qouted a paragraph referring to a previous incident and not the one in the picture. Wake up!
Tony Cappello
Aug 25th 2012, 15:36
@Jay Smith...You NEED to READ the whole article not just the last lines ....It was clearly about another incident that happend on June 14th ...duh!!!
Matthew Muscat
Aug 25th 2012, 15:39
do you know how to read? the inquire of delaying the trip was on the incident that happened on the 14th of June and not about the picture you looked at!
Read and read and read before you speak!
Chris Green
Aug 25th 2012, 15:53
Please read the article more carefully and you will see that you are confusing two events.
However, there is an outrageous disregard of Health and Safety in Malta generally which does need addressing.
Jason Falzon
Aug 25th 2012, 16:48
Mr. Smith not to defend them but read the article again and you'll see that, that bit is referring to a separate inciden.
James Dewar
Aug 25th 2012, 13:00
Inexcusable and frightening. Surely an in-depth independent enquiry is justified and essential with a view to establishing exactly what took place and who was responsible. In the absence of such an enquiry what is to prevent a repeat incident with fatal consequences? There is a possibility that sheer incompetence was involved at best and at worst gross negligence. Even if the explanation of cars trying to board too late is to be believed it is not a satisfactory reason as measures should have been in place to prevent such an occurence and staff should have been alert to what was going on. There seem to be more issues with all of Malta's transport services, land, sea and air, than at any time in the past 30 years.....or is it just me? thinking so?
Josephine Attard
Aug 25th 2012, 12:43
A truly serious and accountable company would issue some form of explanation for this. People need to know that such an incident is taken seriously and not shrugged off and played down... Thank God nobody was injured during this incident, it could have led to much more serious ramifications.
John L Galea
Aug 25th 2012, 12:35
"After that incident Gozo Channel had said that from its initial enquiries it appeared that some passengers attempted to stop the MV Malita from departing by getting on the ramp just as it started being raised, apparently in order to delay the trip so that other passengers could board."
From the picture it shows otherwise as the cars were unloading from the ferry not boarding...so is the Gozo Channel statement a blatant lie?
Darby Allen
Aug 25th 2012, 13:51
The reference is to the incident of 14 June, not last night's!
Brendon Borg
Aug 25th 2012, 16:20
They are referring to June incident and not yesterdays.
Mr wenzu montesin
Aug 25th 2012, 16:52
'that incident' is referring to the previous incident which happened in June, hence the answer to your comment and question!!!
Jay Oatmon
Aug 25th 2012, 12:15
It needs CCTV recording of the ramp and the controls and the operator - or no one will admit their mistake for ever and ever.
Jonathan Barbara
Aug 25th 2012, 14:46
From the article it seems that the ramp was not lifted mechanically, but by leverage when the ferry moved outwards after the rope broke. So it's not about the controls and the operator - its about routine maintenance and checking of the mooring ropes.
John Gozo
Aug 25th 2012, 11:33
will Minister Fenech order an inquiry?
will the Chairman finally assume responsibility?
will Transport Malta ensure that all the investigations already 'opened' by Gozo Channel are concluded and the reports published?
James Dewar
Aug 25th 2012, 13:02
John, It is to be hoped so on all three points but am I being too optimistic?
James Tyrrell
Aug 25th 2012, 11:28
There is not another country in the world where such a dangerous incident could occur and result in effectively no action whatsoever. Gozo Channel just appear to shrug their shoulders and accept such things as an everyday occurrence. There is no way this ship should have sailed again until such times as the cause of the so called accident was ascertained. Standard practice would have the ship taken out of service until it had been fully examined by engineers and deemed safe to use. So what will happen now? Since this is Malta we are talking about I would say that a statement will be issued blaming the incident on an electrical fault and no further action will be taken. If Malta ever has a serious and effective Health & Safety executive half the country will grind to a halt!
Michael de Marco
Aug 25th 2012, 11:17
As a reasonably frequent user of Gozo Channel it seems to me that an adequate service is provided with regards to schedule frequency and general condition of the ferries.
I have had long experience in the loading and unloading of ships, quite often under somewhat adverse conditions, and feel that I am in a position to comment on the discharge of vehicles from the Gozo ferry which is at times appalling, verging on dangerous, depending on the quality and interest being taken by the crew member "in charge". When the "supervisor" fails to take control a situation sometimes develops whereby several car lanes move forward at the same time - two cars converging on the ramp at the same time is fine, but more than that is somewhat "difficult". Very often a ship's officer is present during loading - but very rarely during the discharge - why not?
And who is responsible for this latest shambles? Ultimately it is the Master who must ensure the safety of all operations on his ship - it is always wise to order adequate supervision whenever ship to shore is taking place. Presumably Gozo Channel has a set of standing operating procedures - but are they always being followed?
There is often a tendency for operators to become somewhat blase' when an operation becomes very routine - but that is when professionalism is needed most. Perhaps a good shake-up is needed.
John Xuereb
Aug 25th 2012, 11:16
"After that incident Gozo Channel had said that from its initial enquiries it appeared that some passengers attempted to stop the MV Malita from departing by getting on the ramp just as it started being raised, apparently in order to delay the trip so that other passengers could board."
kif jista jkun??? mela l-karozza qed jitilghu fuq il-vapur bir-reverse daz-zmien??
jien 4 karozzi qed nara u kollha wicchom il-barra jidhru.... mid-dehra l-vapur kien ghadu jasal kien beda ihott u mhux jabbi.
Nicky Azzopardi
Aug 25th 2012, 11:36
John, dak x'qalu l-ahhar darba meta inqala incident simili imma bil kotra - huma u tilghajn.
V Cassar
Aug 25th 2012, 11:37
It was referring to the other case which occurred last June.
Chris Gatt
Aug 25th 2012, 11:37
Mr Xuereb seems to have a got a bit confused. the incident he is referring to happened a few months ago . See previous paragraph to the one he quoted.
Robert Grixti
Aug 25th 2012, 11:37
That comment referred to the June 14 incident, not tonight's.
Mr G Caruana
Aug 25th 2012, 11:03
I cannot understand this apathy. You do not simply resume operations as if it's normal procedure that a ramp on a ferry raises while being used to embark/disembark. Where is the captain of this ship?
Mr Joe Frendo
Aug 25th 2012, 10:57
I hope that the police have listed down all those possibly in this fiasco and the company seriously investigates this flaw. It clearly shows from the photo and the fact that they move the boat another meter, that the ferry was not safely close enough to the ramp, thus the ramp moved down with the weigh of the vehicles. This weights all responsibility on the Captain. It is not a matter of cars left before the go ahead, as stated in the article, as cars have already disembarked from the ferry.
Who is going to take responsibility so that such things would NEVER EVER happen again. This accident could have easily been dramatic if vehicles fell in the sea with all occupants.
Paul Caruana
Aug 25th 2012, 10:53
Presumibly, Transport Malta (rather than the Gozo Channel company) will launch an indipendent enquiry to determine exactly why such potentially dangerous incidents are occuring, with a view to avoid future recurrences once and for all.
Peter Murray
Aug 25th 2012, 10:52
So what will the outcome be of this potentially disastrous aberration ?
Joseph N. Attard
Aug 25th 2012, 10:43
Surely a serious enquiry by Transport Malta is in order? Is the ship's hydraulic system safe? Is its crew well trained? How could the ship sail on as if nothing serious had happened? I smile when people end their piece by saying "only in Malta", but I do feel like repeating it this time.
ANTHONY PAVIA
Aug 25th 2012, 11:12
Don't hold your breath.
A. Mifsud
Aug 25th 2012, 10:33
where was the captain, during all this drama? Gozo channel could not walk away with murder in such instances as if nothing happened!
If passengers had easy access to ramp controls "as to delay the trip" as the company "found out" in the other incident than the ships' design and security are severely flawed.
In these circumstances we need not be surprised should the worst happen and more serious accidents occur.....
Steve Pace
Aug 25th 2012, 09:47
It is normal practice that a red and white chain crosses from one side of the ramp to the other and it is never removed before the ramp is fully extended and manually removed by crew members.. This could be a hint as to what happened.
Mr Victor Borg
Aug 25th 2012, 09:45
The Gozo Channel tries its best to shirk from its responsibilities for passengers. I had an incident with a worker a few years ago, and when I complained, they told me that they could not accept my complaint because six weeks had passed!
Mr Tony Gatt
Aug 25th 2012, 09:45
No officer in charge of the loading/unloading? I would have thought that after a previous incident procedures would have been tightened up.
Charles Mangion
Aug 25th 2012, 09:45
It boils down to the Captain His responsability to see the ramp is clear and secure before embarking or disimbarking and the ramp is closed before he sails
Anthony Arpa
Aug 25th 2012, 09:43
F'dan il pajjiez kollox possibli .... Hawn id dixxiplina l'ghanqas biss nafu fejn toqod ... Kieku kullhad ikun responsabli min xholu u jkun jaf li dan irried ikollu jkallas ta l-izbalji tijaw min butu kieku zgur ma jkollniex accidenti bhal dawn jew bhall ma kellhna delay fuq ajruplan hekk kapricc ...
Mano' Xerri
Aug 25th 2012, 09:38
Gozo ferries you must be the worst company for safety in Europe ever, this is not the first time that accidents did happen and one fatally not so long ago, also the space hardly any room to open car doors between one car and the other is illegal in most european countries as it leaves hardly any room for passengers to get out and go on top deck. Pull your socks up or stop operating a dangerous service.
A frequnt visiter to Malta and Gozo.
Jack parker
Aug 25th 2012, 09:30
A lone policeman eventually appeared and tried to downplay the seriousness of the accident......................that's about right for Malta!!!!
Etienne Galea
Aug 25th 2012, 09:21
"The ship was then moved a metre or so forward, and crew on the starboard side secured the mooring ropes at the front." - It means that the ramp was lowered but the ship itself was not secured? That is a serious negligence. The ship should be secure at all times, even in calm waters.
M Cassar
Aug 25th 2012, 09:19
What a stupid excuse by Gozo Channel !
When will state owned companies give some consideration to customer care ? Accidents do happen, but from what I can see whoever took the decision to pull up the ramps did not care much about the health and safety of the company's customers. Of course, if the passengers abused there were other ways to deal with them without risking their lives and propery.
Whoever took the decision to raise the ramps should be sacked.
V Caruana
Aug 25th 2012, 09:18
Relying on the on-spot witness is interesting to note: The ship was then moved a metre or so forward, and crew on the starboard side secured the mooring ropes at the front.
It seems that the ship moved out to the sea, the middle ramp found itself "floating" the free space between ship and ground consequently going down due to the load of the cars. Once the ramp is lowered to the ground I don't know whether it is mechanically or hydraulically locked. Could the ramp be designed to fold upwards? The cars could easily have ended up in the sea.
Thank God this accident didn't end up in a tragedy.
Frederick Frendo
Aug 25th 2012, 09:17
is this a joke ?
Joanna Cassar
Aug 25th 2012, 09:14
we need that tunnel....fast
C Cassar
Aug 25th 2012, 10:57
haha, can you imagine a tunnel that allows Maltese drivers to drive their vehicles to Gozo? Really, there will never be a tunnel and even if there was, it would be serviced by a train as in the Channell tunnel between England and France purely for safety reasons. That would mean checkin, boarding etc and would in the end take longer than the existing ferry service and cost much, much more per crossing.
Josef Borg
Aug 25th 2012, 11:06
How many lanes would you like ? Four or six ?
Robert Agius
Aug 25th 2012, 11:31
If you can't trust a simple ramp on the island...you are going to trust them building an underwater tunnel?
Adriano Spiteri
Aug 25th 2012, 09:10
"downplayed the seriousness" - am not surprised!
The ramp can only be raised manually by a Gozo channel employee. The controller has to stand close to the ramp to operate it and keep the button pressed for it to be raised. The moment he releases the button, the ramp stops moving.
I do not care much about car damage because accidents happen. But I do care about what tourists end up saying about our country and our attitude.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On a separate note I would like to draw reader's attention to the fact that barriers have been installed at Mgarr. One would have to stop at a cash point to pay the fare and then proceed through these barriers. Why, then, is there a need for a Gozo Channel employee to re-check the tickets?
Who is paying for this incompetence?
M Tonna
Aug 25th 2012, 09:08
The ship does not appear to have been properly moored in the first place as it, secondly who operated the ramp switch is very unprofessional in his position or had clear intentions to cause an accident and harm the image of the company!
The Concordia springs to mind where lack of professionalism lead to so much distress, yet nobody seems to have been blamed untimately.
A stitch in time saves nine!
E. Vassallo
Aug 25th 2012, 09:08
I hope that corrective action is taken if this is a result of negligence.
Deirdre Farrugia
Aug 25th 2012, 08:54
This also happened last Friday 18th August at Cirkewwa, 10.30am ferry. A friend and I were about to board the ferry in her car, we were on the ferry's gangway when the car in front of us got hit by the final section of the ramp that started to raise. The car's bumper and bonnet were damaged quite badly. So, this is either a mechanical defect, or human error happening too often!
Carmel Ellul
Aug 25th 2012, 08:54
These systems are made to international safety standards.
These standards make sure that such dangerous unexpected accidents do not occur.
Such occurences need to be seriously evaluated and verified by competent persons both from the certifying body for the ship , ramp design, and last maintenance log of the ramp.
Action should be taken to make sure that if this was a chance happening resulting from unforseen circumstances in the standards , then the necessary upgrading to the controls is made.
If it results that this was a result of incompetence then necessary disciplinary actions should be taken.
Usually safety standards are such that operator incompetence is guarded against .
Chris Grech
Aug 25th 2012, 08:54
Totally irresponsible! On another note, just a curiosity...are rent a cars allowed on the ferry?
C Cassar
Aug 25th 2012, 10:49
yes
Peter Shaw
Aug 25th 2012, 08:50
who will pay for the car damages?
Mr Peter Korsten
Aug 25th 2012, 08:47
One day, this will make the international news and not just the Maltese. It's baffling that the crew are either unaware of any safety and emergency procedures, or don't care about them. There have to be serious consequences, including dismissal of those responsible, and those accountable.
Daniela Attard
Aug 25th 2012, 08:40
I hope the car owners will not end up having to pay for this, make expensive insurance claims etc.... unbelievable the least Gozo Channel could do is issue a statement and admit responsability and liability!
Claire Abela
Aug 25th 2012, 08:39
Who will take the responsibility of this accident? Where was the captain? Thank God that no one was seriously injured. Hope we will have a good valid reason for this incident!!!
Jay Oatmon
Aug 25th 2012, 08:37
It seems that everyone ducking the safety issues at Gozo Channel - do we still have the same old "we know best don't question us" attitude.
The board needs to appoint either a director of safety or a safety manager right away.
Whoever is in charge of safety must have the ability to stop the ferry sailing without asking the 'management' - who seem to be in a world of their own a few decades back.
K Mizzi
Aug 25th 2012, 08:34
Heads will roll (hopefully)
Doreen Rizzo
Aug 25th 2012, 11:54
Not in this country...
Andrew Calleja
Aug 25th 2012, 08:33
It appears from the photo that the ramp did not actually rise but the middle section seems to have gone down giving the impression that the front went up.
Charmaine Marmara'
Aug 25th 2012, 08:28
no one is responsible... incompetence at its best !!! i wish malta would do the bridge so maybe they stop this arrogance once and for all !!!
AJ Vella
Aug 25th 2012, 11:54
Building a damn bridge is not a solution...trust me nor bridges or tunnels would ever arrange the problem of Malta!
J. Grima
Aug 25th 2012, 08:25
Does Gozo Channel think we are stupid? Is it not obvious that the cars are UNBOARDING not boarding the ferry? Thy are pointing towards the port not the ferry.
Giovann Attard
Aug 25th 2012, 08:24
Wara incident bhal dan u ohrajn simili li saru fil-passat ricenti, ic-Chairman tal-Gozo Channel ghandu jkun serju bizzejjed u jitfa' r-rizenja tieghu. Ma nistghux bhala poplu Malti u Ghawdxi nibqghu nhallsu salarji kbar lid-Diretturi manigerjali tal-kumpaniji pubblici mit-taxxi taghna biex imbaghad ikollna nhabbtu wiccna ma' inkompetenza grassa kullimkien. Tassew tal-misthija!!
Doreen Rizzo
Aug 25th 2012, 08:19
Dan hu kaz serju li jrid jigi nvestigat bl-akbar serjeta'.
U mela nizzlu l-passigieri, rega' ghabba... u telaq qisu qatt ma kien xejn.
Min se jiehu r-responsabbilita'??? Min??? Hadd ma hu 'accountable' f'dal-pajjiz tal-mickey mouse?
Jien ghadni kif uzajt is-servizz tal-Gozo Channel u n-nuqqas ta' sorveljanza tar-regolamenti huwa tal-ghageb.
Sewwa qal Lawrence Fenech: kellkom kaptan serju u rajtu kif ghamiltu u sallabtuh. Min jaf ghaliex ???
Joseph Fenech
Aug 25th 2012, 22:02
Naqbel mieghek mija fil-mija.il-vapur jiccaqlaq biss meta issir l-inkjesta,imma go dan il-pajjiz kollox possibbli.!!!!
donald borg
Aug 25th 2012, 08:13
Minn hu ACCOUNTABLE BAHH ma tarax li hemm xi hadd jghid JIEN.Qisni tal kummiedja "FAULTY TOWERS" Issa jghidu li sejjrin jaraw ghaliex. Ir-risultat ikun MA NISIMAW XEJN IZJED.Il-veru pajjiz tac-cwiec.Nistenna stqarrija immedjata mic Chairman tal Gozo channel.
A Farrugia
Aug 25th 2012, 08:10
Nisperaw li issa qisu ma gara xejn ghax allura .......... vera tal misthija, dal pajjiz jigri x'jigri hadd ma hu responsabli, minn ghamel zball irrid iwiegeb !! Trid tidher is serjeta tal Gozo Channel kif wara kollox ghandu jkun.
Peter Murray
Aug 25th 2012, 08:08
Will anyone take responsibility and gross aberration for this let alone be sacked or resign?
Barney Camilleri
Aug 25th 2012, 08:01
When was the last time a call of application was published for EXPERIENCED ramp operators position posted?
or Is it another mysterious job found to those in the inner circle whatever the results will be.
John Bonnici
Aug 25th 2012, 08:01
Selfishness, bring on the tunnel so such people will get back to the work seeking register!!!!
mark borg
Aug 25th 2012, 07:51
x inkompetenza
Joseph Grima
Aug 25th 2012, 07:47
Gozo Channel is all but a tragedy waiting to happen. Captain Grech was absolutely right in expressing his serious concerns about passenger safety. His reward was that he was ostracised by the Company by the Government that should have defended him and applauded his actions and by a callous Minister who is only interested in publishing record figures of passenger crossings.
Robert Henry Bugeja
Aug 25th 2012, 07:29
Min ser jerfa ir responsabbillta?
Clifford Galea
Aug 25th 2012, 07:22
Ara ma jmorrux il-UHM ghal xi zieda issa?! X'inkompetenza!
Josephine Muscat
Aug 25th 2012, 06:56
Whoever was responsible to see that the operating switch of the ramp is not set in motion should be sacked......Jew Farsi ta Giovanna dan
Lawrence Zammit
Aug 25th 2012, 08:35
What has Giovanna got to do with this accident ? Don't make us laugh or cry !!
C Cassar
Aug 25th 2012, 09:36
So what facts do you have that it was due to an indivudual? What about a mechanical failure (most likely)? Have you seen the results of the investigation since it hasn't been carried out yet?
Jon Fenech
Aug 25th 2012, 06:09
This is very serious, usually people tend to wear their seatbelts and drive off so if any of these cars were pushed off into the sea it could have been fatal!! The ramp operator must answer for this.
C Cassar
Aug 25th 2012, 09:34
Yes but none of the cars were "pushed" into the sea were they? So, less of the "what if's" because that is pure speculation. Considering the number of ferry and car movements each year, the Gozo Channel ferry system provides an excellent service at a very low price.
S. Calleja
Aug 25th 2012, 11:17
@ C Cassar
A man walks down the street, close to a construction site. A large piece of concrete falls right next to him, missing him by an inch. Had it hit him, he would have surely been killed. He shrugs it off, since any investigation into the matter would be pure speculation, and continues on his way as if nothing happened.
Tell me, what kind of world do you live in?
Robert Agius
Aug 25th 2012, 11:34
C.Cassar, it will provide a better service if it sacks the person responsible for this incident. No sorry, incidents. One to many this summer alone.
C Cassar
Aug 25th 2012, 11:41
@S. Calleja:
Clearly I live in the very real world since accidents will always happen whether improvements in operating practices/maintenance are made, so live with it. In life people get injured and some die.
S. Calleja
Aug 25th 2012, 14:07
@ C Cassar. In real life incidents happen and some die. But when they do, there is a thorough investigation, those responsible brought to justice, and measures are taken to minimize the chances of it happening again. Not in Malta it seems...
Lawrence Fenech
Aug 25th 2012, 05:03
Halluna Gozo Channel, irringrazzjaw il-bambin li il karozzi ma hadux in-nhar mela twahhlu fil-passiggieri. Imisskom tithu. U wara dan kollu kellkhom Kaptan ta' l-affari tieghu u sallabtuh.
Please choose the reason of your report below: