The Overlooked Risk of Gangways on Cruise Ships
By Miami Cruise Lawyer Alex Perkins, Esq.
One of the most overlooked risks on a cruise ship involves gangways—the critical pathways passengers use to board and disembark ships, especially during ship-to-tender transfers. For those injured due to gangway hazards, the Miami cruise ship injury lawyers at Perkins Law Offices can be an injured passenger’s last hope at getting justice for a serious injury caused by a dangerous gangway and the negligence of the cruise line. We have seen numerous vacations and lives ruined by injuries occurring on gangways that the cruise lines could have easily prevented.
Many good-natured cruise passengers may think a mishap on a gangway is an inherent part of cruising, or they may chalk it up to their own clumsiness or infirmities. But it should not be that way. The cruise line is a common carrier and has a duty to get you to and from your destination safely. And if the cruise line does not exercise due care in that regard, it can– and should be held liable. The cruise lines know gangways are a weak link in the chain of transporting guests, and yet the state of the art and safety seemingly has not progressed along with the technology of the vessels themselves. As a premier cruise lawyer based in Miami, we understand the unique challenges of maritime law and the specific dangers posed by gangways, particularly when cruise lines rely on tenders to ferry passengers to shore.
The Overlooked Risk of Gangways on Cruise Ships
The Dangers of Gangways: Movement, Pitch, Wetness, Deterioration, and Tripping Hazards
Gangways serve as the bridge between a cruise ship and either a pier or a tender boat, but they are far from risk-free, even when they are made from high grade materials. When cruise ships use tenders—smaller boats to shuttle passengers to shore—the gangway becomes a moving platform subject to the whims of the sea. Rough seas can cause the tender and ship to shift independently, making the gangway unstable. When the gangway moves, the so too do the people on them and their component parts, such as railings and ramp connectors. When the ramp connectors move the floor surfaces and thresh holds may no longer be flush creating tripping hazards. Loose and moving railings, or poorly maintained equipment, further compound the risk from rough seas.
Rain or ocean spray can leave surfaces slick, increasing the likelihood of slips and falls. Other passengers may drop or spill food, drinks, or sunscreen resulting in extra slippery metal gangways. How often do you think the cruise lines deep clean or power wash these gangways after thousands upon thousands of guests track over them?
Ships may utilize different sizes and types of gangways at different parts of the ship and depending on the type of tender. Most gangways are not really affixed or fastened in a way that keep the thresholds connected or flush to the ship deck and vice versa. For cruise lines that frequently avoid traditional ports in favor of private islands, the reliance on tenders—and thus gangplanks—heightens these dangers.
Passengers may not realize that cruise lines have a legal duty to ensure safe passage. When negligence, such as inadequate maintenance or failure to assist passengers or adequately warn passengers, leads to injury, a Miami cruise ship injury lawyer from Perkins Law Offices can hold the cruise line accountable. We’ve seen firsthand how these incidents can result in serious injuries, from broken bones to head trauma, leaving victims with medical bills, lost wages, and pain. We take on these cases knowing the major crise lines will fight hard and will need to be sued in federal court.
The Overlooked Risk of Gangways on Cruise Ships
Gangway Materials and Maritime Standards
The construction of gangways plays a significant role in their safety. Gangways are typically made from materials like aluminum, steel, or reinforced composites, chosen for their durability and resistance to corrosion in harsh marine environments. Aluminum is lightweight and commonly used for portable gangways, while steel offers greater strength for fixed installations. Some modern gangways incorporate non-slip coatings or textured surfaces to reduce slip risks, but these can wear down over time if not properly maintained.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) sets standards for gangway safety under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). These regulations mandate features like handrails on both sides—typically at a height of about 1 meter (3.3 feet)—to provide stability, as well as sufficient width to accommodate passenger flow. Materials must withstand environmental stresses, including saltwater exposure and heavy use. However, compliance isn’t always guaranteed, and wear, poor maintenance, or design flaws can render even regulation-compliant gangways dangerous. At Perkins Law Offices, our Miami cruise ship injury lawyers investigate whether cruise lines adhered to these standards when gangway failures occur.
The Overlooked Risk of Gangways on Cruise Ships
Private Islands and Gangway Use: A Closer Look at Major Cruise Lines
Many major cruise lines own private islands in the Caribbean, marketed as exclusive paradises. However, the infrastructure—or lack thereof—at these destinations often means increased use of tenders and gangways. When the pier has not been built yet or is inaccessible, the cruise line must use tenders to transport passengers to and from the ship. Here’s how the top cruise lines operate:
- Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL): NCL owns Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas, a tender-only destination. With no pier, passengers must board tenders via gangways, exposing them to risks from boat movement and wet conditions, especially during inclement weather. Passenger complain about the long waits and lines in loading the tenders too. The cruise line typically will fill each tender to capacity before pushing off from the ship to the island. The bay where the ship is anchored is known for getting choppy, which meant the boats are moving and the gangways are bounces around. Sometimes NCL must skip this destination because the winds and seas make taking gangways to the tender too dangerous.
- Royal Caribbean International (RCCL): RCCL operates CocoCay (recently rebranded as Perfect Day at CocoCay), also in the Bahamas. After a $250 million upgrade in 2019, CocoCay now features a pier, reducing tender use. However, prior to this, gangway transfers were common, and some excursions still rely on tenders.
- Carnival Cruise Line: Carnival’s Half Moon Cay (Little San Salvador Island) in the Bahamas lacks a pier, requiring tender operations. Gangways here are frequently subject to movement from waves and wet surfaces from sea spray or rain.
- MSC Cruises: MSC’s Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in the Bahamas includes a pier, allowing direct ship docking. This minimizes tender use.
- Princess Cruises: Princess Cays, another Bahamian private island, relies entirely on tenders. Without a pier, gangway instability due to rough seas is a persistent concern.
- Holland America Line: Holland America shares Half Moon Cay with Carnival, its sister brand, and thus faces the same tender-related gangway challenges.
- Celebrity Cruises: As part of the RCCL family, Celebrity uses CocoCay’s pier-equipped facilities but may still employ tenders for certain itineraries or smaller ports.
Cruise lines that skip traditional ports for these private islands often prioritize cost savings and exclusivity over passenger safety. The increased use of tenders means more gangway crossings, amplifying the potential for accidents. A seasoned cruise lawyer from Perkins Law Offices can investigate whether negligence—such as failing to stabilize gangways or warn of hazards—contributed to your injury.
The Overlooked Risk of Gangways on Cruise Ships
High-Profile Gangway Collapses: A History of Tragedy
Gangway failures have a grim history in the cruise industry, often with devastating consequences. In 2003, a horrific incident occurred during the construction of the Queen Mary 2 in Saint-Nazaire, France. A gangway collapsed, plunging 50 feet to the ground, killing 13 people and injuring 32. Though this occurred during construction rather than passenger operations, it highlighted the catastrophic potential of structural failure. In 2009, an MSC Cruises passenger fell into the water after a gangway collapse during disembarkation, narrowly escaping serious injury but underscoring ongoing safety concerns.
Closer to home, on November 9, 2022, the Norwegian Encore experienced a gangway collapse in Panama City while docked during a Panama Canal cruise. Passengers were injured when the gangway—used for embarking and disembarking—gave way, reportedly due to tidal shifts or structural issues. NCL responded by providing medical care and support, but the incident raised questions about maintenance and oversight. These collapses, whether from metal fatigue, poor design, or environmental factors, demonstrate why gangways remain a critical liability for cruise lines.
Real Lawyers. Real Cases. Lawsuits Against Cruise Lines for Gangway Injuries
Federal court records and online data reveal a history of lawsuits against cruise lines for gangway-related injuries, underscoring the real risks passengers face. Perkins Law Offices has successfully taken on cases against major players like Royal Caribbean and NCL.
A review of maritime injury cases in Miami’s federal courts shows recurring claims against Carnival, RCCL, and NCL for gangway accidents. Examples include slips on wet gangplanks, collapses due to poor maintenance, and falls from unsecured platforms during ship-to-tender transfers. These lawsuits often cite negligence under maritime law, a specialty of Perkins Law Offices.
Gangway Risks in Detail: How Perkins Law Offices Helps Injured Clients
Gangways pose a trifecta of risks—collapses, trips, and slips—that Perkins Law Offices is uniquely equipped to address as Miami cruise ship injury lawyers. Movement from waves or tender misalignment can cause passengers to lose balance, leading to falls. Gangways can lift up and slam down, crushing hands or feet caught in the motion. Slippery surfaces from rain, condensation, spilled drinks, food, or dropped items like sunscreen create hazards that cruise lines often fail to mitigate effectively. While some lines place mats to improve traction, these can become slippery themselves or curl up, creating new tripping hazards. Our firm investigates these specifics—down to the materials, maintenance logs, and crew response—to build ironclad cases for victims of gangway collapses, trip-and-falls, and slip-and-falls.
Why Perkins Law Offices Stands Out as Your Cruise Lawyer
Perkins Law Offices isn’t just another law firm—we’re a top-rated team of Miami cruise ship injury lawyers with a proven track record and glowing client feedback. Our Google Business Profile reflects our commitment to excellence, with a 5-star rating based on numerous reviews. Here’s what some of our clients have said:
- “Perkins Law Offices fought for me after a cruise ship injury and won. They were compassionate, professional, and relentless!” – Jane D.
- “I slipped on a wet gangway, and Perkins Law got me the compensation I deserved. Best cruise lawyers in Miami, hands down!” – Robert S.
- “They handled my case with care and expertise. I couldn’t have asked for a better team.” – Maria T.
Our peers in the legal community also recognize our excellence. Perkins Law Offices is proud to be peer-reviewed and rated among the best cruise ship lawyers in Miami by Super Lawyers, a prestigious honor reserved for top attorneys. We also hold an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, reflecting the highest level of professional excellence and ethical standards. These accolades, combined with our decades of experience in maritime law, make us the go-to cruise lawyer firm for gangway injury cases.
Contact Perkins Law Offices Today
If you’ve been injured on a gangway—whether due to a collapse, trip, slip, or any other hazard—time is critical. Most cruise line passenger contracts impose a one-year statute of limitations and require lawsuits to be filed in Miami’s federal court. At Perkins Law Offices, our Miami cruise ship injury lawyers specialize in fighting for victims against industry giants like NCL, RCCL, and Carnival. We investigate every detail, from gangway materials to IMO compliance, to prove liability.
Don’t let a cruise line’s negligence ruin your life. Contact Perkins Law Offices today at (305) 741-5297 for a free consultation. As your trusted cruise lawyer, we’re committed to securing the compensation you deserve for medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. Let us navigate the legal waters so you can focus on recovery.
