In the MAIB investigation into the sail training vessel Pelican of London (fatal fall from gangway, MAIB Report 10/2024), what was identified as a fundamental flaw in the gangway's safety net arrangement?

A. There was no net fitted at all

B. The net was the correct size but made from the wrong material

C. The net's outer edges were rigged lower than the gangway itself, causing it to slope downward away from the gangway like a chute, instead of being positioned to arrest a fall

D. The net was fitted but had not been inspected in over a year

A. Follow the company manual, since it is the vessel's day-to-day reference document

B. Follow whichever is easier to implement operationally

C. Follow the more stringent WAH Regulations 2010 / MGN 410 requirement, since it is statutory law and takes precedence over COSWP guidance where the two conflict — the company manual itself should also be flagged for update

D. Average the two requirements to find a middle ground

A. Yes, since the vessel does sometimes carry out SAR work

B. Yes, provided the Master documents the decision in the deck log

C. No — the derogation only applies to the specific provision that cannot be complied with due to characteristics peculiar to the SAR/civil protection activity itself; it cannot be stretched to cover routine height-work tasks unrelated to that activity

D. Yes, but only if the vessel is flagged in a Red Ensign Group register