According to wiki there have been 4 previous incidents involving a ferry. 2 were because of dock hits. The other 2 were because of guests (a woman jumped from an upper deck into the lagoon; a couple of a Sea Racyer hit a ferry)
With millions on the ferries each year without incidents, it seems pretty safe to me.
it’s safe until it isn’t. $#IT happens. The real question is whether it was a Ferry Boat malfunction or an employee mistake hitting the dock. In general, there is not as much traffic on the water ways so it is safer mode to transport. But when accidents occur, WDW should take responsibility and have comments to the media at least.
Just now looked at satellite image of ferry slips at Disney World.
There are two long fenders(?) on either side that appear to be positioned to keep the end of the vessel properly aligned with the passenger boarding ramps despite adverse wind conditions that would cause it to pivot to one side.
These structures narrow slightly to ‘funnel’ a slightly wayward vessel (most times, I imagine, due to wind) towards its proper docking position.
There is pair of much more robust structures, facing one another in a wedge shape, located very near the end of the passenger loading pier that appear to be able to not only absorb a glancing blow but help to guide the end of a very slowly moving ferry to a precise position that aligns with the passenger boarding ramps.
These may also be designed to help arrest a vessel that approaches too fast.
The ferries themselves must have a much reinforced ‘belt’ around their ends designed to withstand both routine as well as much more forceful encounters with the ‘wedge’ structure(s).
What is not apparent in the satellite image is if there is any additional collision protection on the very end of the pier.
I am assuming that the ‘wedge’ structure is engineered to stop a typical ferry moving up to a certain speed (faster than normal) prior to it striking the bitter end of the pier.
The ‘give’ to the design of these may only be a few inches (a foot?).
Even a rather slow moving ferry (less than walking pace?) would be stopped rather abruptly.
Guests lined up at a de-boarding location facing sideways to the direction of travel may be most susceptible to being pitched over onto the deck (along with strollers?)
An investigation may reveal a one or more of a number of possible conditions that contributed to the ‘hard landing’.
Steps necessary to mitigate future occurrences will no doubt be taken, if feasible.
Hmmmmnnn…
There are reports of a heavy rain at the time of the collision with the dock.
This rain may well have obscured one or more visual references that the person at the helm would normally utilize to determine precise speed as the vessel neared the end of the pier.
I feel that there is a possibility that limited visibility during the final approach to the dock may well have contributed to the incident
On another matter.
While there were a number of guests that fell as the vessel came to a stop, with injuries to some, apparently the majority of the passengers were able to walk off as normal, once the ramps were in place.
In my opinion, there would have been no reason to communicate with guests on board that there was a mishap during docking.
That would be obvious to everyone on board.
When ramps were in place and ready to be used, I feel there would be no need to communicate to uninjured and mobile guests anything more than the normal debarking instructions (are these recorded?)
Nor would an apology from the Pilot be necessary.
(Company rules would most likely specify that public statements regarding any incident be limited to official sources.)
Not the first time a ferry makes a ‘hard landing’ with a ferry slip.
This must happen anywhere ferries of these type are used.
The ferries at Disney World are relatively small and lightweight.
Most ferry vessels used worldwide are massive enough that blows to parts of a ferry slip would not be felt quite so violently by passengers on board.
In these cases there will be much more damage done to the slip itself and possibly parts of vessel as well.
I’m thinking that the robust ‘wedge’ structures may be designed to be somewhat resilient in normal service and ‘give’ enough to allow a typical ferry ‘landing’ to stop and slowly ‘bounce’ back a reasonable distance (a foot or so?).
I’m thinking the engine would continue running slowly ‘ahead’ just enough to keep the vessel pressed against the pier to minimize movement while ramps and lines are made fast.
Also..
My ‘walking pace’ is around 3 mph, which may be much faster than the speed the ferry would normally be moving during the final stages of it’s approach.
A sudden deceleration from my ‘walking speed’ to a dead stop within a couple of feet (followed by a bit of a rebound?) may be sufficient to cause a number of standing guests to fall.
Comments for Shocking Details Emerge Regarding Brutal Ferry Boat Crash; Disney Remains Silent
Penny
According to wiki there have been 4 previous incidents involving a ferry. 2 were because of dock hits. The other 2 were because of guests (a woman jumped from an upper deck into the lagoon; a couple of a Sea Racyer hit a ferry)
With millions on the ferries each year without incidents, it seems pretty safe to me.
Ann
I didn’t look into it, but I figured that with the amount of ferries that go back and forth every day, it still seems pretty safe.
Hurt on Ferry Boat , SC
it’s safe until it isn’t. $#IT happens. The real question is whether it was a Ferry Boat malfunction or an employee mistake hitting the dock. In general, there is not as much traffic on the water ways so it is safer mode to transport. But when accidents occur, WDW should take responsibility and have comments to the media at least.
Gary
Well…
Just now looked at satellite image of ferry slips at Disney World.
There are two long fenders(?) on either side that appear to be positioned to keep the end of the vessel properly aligned with the passenger boarding ramps despite adverse wind conditions that would cause it to pivot to one side.
These structures narrow slightly to ‘funnel’ a slightly wayward vessel (most times, I imagine, due to wind) towards its proper docking position.
There is pair of much more robust structures, facing one another in a wedge shape, located very near the end of the passenger loading pier that appear to be able to not only absorb a glancing blow but help to guide the end of a very slowly moving ferry to a precise position that aligns with the passenger boarding ramps.
These may also be designed to help arrest a vessel that approaches too fast.
The ferries themselves must have a much reinforced ‘belt’ around their ends designed to withstand both routine as well as much more forceful encounters with the ‘wedge’ structure(s).
What is not apparent in the satellite image is if there is any additional collision protection on the very end of the pier.
I am assuming that the ‘wedge’ structure is engineered to stop a typical ferry moving up to a certain speed (faster than normal) prior to it striking the bitter end of the pier.
The ‘give’ to the design of these may only be a few inches (a foot?).
Even a rather slow moving ferry (less than walking pace?) would be stopped rather abruptly.
Guests lined up at a de-boarding location facing sideways to the direction of travel may be most susceptible to being pitched over onto the deck (along with strollers?)
An investigation may reveal a one or more of a number of possible conditions that contributed to the ‘hard landing’.
Steps necessary to mitigate future occurrences will no doubt be taken, if feasible.
Hmmmmnnn…
There are reports of a heavy rain at the time of the collision with the dock.
This rain may well have obscured one or more visual references that the person at the helm would normally utilize to determine precise speed as the vessel neared the end of the pier.
I feel that there is a possibility that limited visibility during the final approach to the dock may well have contributed to the incident
On another matter.
While there were a number of guests that fell as the vessel came to a stop, with injuries to some, apparently the majority of the passengers were able to walk off as normal, once the ramps were in place.
In my opinion, there would have been no reason to communicate with guests on board that there was a mishap during docking.
That would be obvious to everyone on board.
When ramps were in place and ready to be used, I feel there would be no need to communicate to uninjured and mobile guests anything more than the normal debarking instructions (are these recorded?)
Nor would an apology from the Pilot be necessary.
(Company rules would most likely specify that public statements regarding any incident be limited to official sources.)
Not the first time a ferry makes a ‘hard landing’ with a ferry slip.
This must happen anywhere ferries of these type are used.
The ferries at Disney World are relatively small and lightweight.
Most ferry vessels used worldwide are massive enough that blows to parts of a ferry slip would not be felt quite so violently by passengers on board.
In these cases there will be much more damage done to the slip itself and possibly parts of vessel as well.
Stay Well…
Gary
In retrospect…
I’m thinking that the robust ‘wedge’ structures may be designed to be somewhat resilient in normal service and ‘give’ enough to allow a typical ferry ‘landing’ to stop and slowly ‘bounce’ back a reasonable distance (a foot or so?).
I’m thinking the engine would continue running slowly ‘ahead’ just enough to keep the vessel pressed against the pier to minimize movement while ramps and lines are made fast.
Also..
My ‘walking pace’ is around 3 mph, which may be much faster than the speed the ferry would normally be moving during the final stages of it’s approach.
A sudden deceleration from my ‘walking speed’ to a dead stop within a couple of feet (followed by a bit of a rebound?) may be sufficient to cause a number of standing guests to fall.
Mark Taylor
Can’t wait to hear what the captain says in court.