A vehicle in ‘Gold Class’ (Clase Oro) on the Fred Olsen ‘Benchijigua Express’ trimaran fell off the ferry into the water last week, during a crossing between San Sebastián de La Gomera and Los Cristianos in the south of Tenerife, as reported by Puentedemando.com.
The shipping company is investigating the incident, claiming at the moment they don’t know how it came loose and “jumped” overboard, because the vehicle was supposed to be correctly secured when it was in the front row, in accordance with the stowage procedures.
"When the internal alarm was given, crew members ran to the aft deck to check if any passengers had taken photos or recorded images with their mobile phones," says one of the passengers.
The crew that attends the parking, has great experience, and always tells drivers that they must leave their vehicles in gear with the handbrake on, and in the case of those in gold class, with the steering wheel turned to the right. The tires are then shod with rubber studs on both the front and rear wheels. A manoeuvre that is complied with strictly and then verified by the boatswain and the sailor on duty before departure.
This is an unusual incident in high-speed ferries in Spain, although there have been other incidents. In 2010 the Acciona Trasmediterránea catamaran “Alborán” arrived in the port of Ceuta with a truck hanging from the stern ramp, and there was a similar case in 2014 on the “Bencomo Express”, also owned by Fred Olsen at the port of Agaete in Gran Canaria, after a rough crossing.
