Marine Gangways and Safe Access for Vessels and Docks
Moving crews between a dock and a vessel is a high-risk transfer at any marine facility. Tides change the deck height throughout the day, and walking surfaces near the water rarely stay dry.
Hemco designs marine gangways and fall protection equipment for ports, shipyards, terminals, and offshore operations. We proudly provide safety and operations managers with a safe and reliable path for personnel moving on and off a vessel.
Get In Touch
The Safety Challenges of Dock-to-Vessel Access
Marine sites put access equipment through conditions that land-based facilities never come close to. A vessel's freeboard rises and falls with the tide and with its load, so the gap between dock and deck is always moving. Salt air and spray attack steel structures, and corrosion shortens the service life of equipment that was never built for it. Fuel and chemical transfer areas add another requirement, since any spark near the hatch or manifold is a hazard.
Vessel variety complicates things further. A single berth might host barges one week, and tankers the next, and a gangway sized for one hull may leave a dangerous gap on another. Improvised ramps and ladders fill that gap at many facilities, and that is where slips and falls happen.
Vessel Access Gangways Ready for Marine Conditions
We build our vessel access gangways from marine-grade aluminum because it withstands salt air and spray. It won't spark or corrode, and it keeps each unit light enough for your crew to handle. Our customers use them to load, unload, inspect, and repair barges, tankers, naval vessels, and ships.
We fabricate every gangway to your measurements and bulk loading requirements.
Tell us how your berth works and we'll recommend a fixed, pivoting, or portable style, with a fixed or adjustable ramp length to match.
If your operators need to raise and lower the gangway without manual handling, we can add an electric or hydraulic lift package. Each walkway has a slip-resistant surface and pipe handrails on both sides for a firm hold in wet conditions, and we design with low-maintenance requirements in mind since your equipment stays exposed to the elements year-round.
Ship Gangway Systems With Integrated Fall Protection
A gangway covers the walk to the vessel, but the landing and the work area around it need protection, too. We build complete ship gangway systems by pairing each gangway with components designed for the rest of the access point:
- Gangway safety cages: Enclose the walkway end to protect workers as they step on or off.
- Industrial safety gates: Close open edges on platforms and landings when the gangway is not in use.
- Rigid lifeline systems: Provide an overhead anchor point for personnel who need to tie off along the work area.
- Gangway accessories: Improve crew productivity and adapt the system to the equipment you already have in place.
Tell us how your crew uses the access point today, and we'll recommend the combination of components that closes the gaps.
Frequently Asked Questions About Marine Gangways
What information does Hemco need to size a marine gangway?
Start with dock height, the tidal range at the berth, the types of vessels you service, and your loading method. Any hazardous product involved also shapes the design. Drawings or photos of the berth help our team prepare an accurate estimate.
Can Hemco retrofit an existing gangway?
Yes. Hemco handles retrofit orders as well as new builds, and many accessories are designed to work with existing equipment.
Are Hemco marine gangways OSHA compliant?
Yes. Hemco's aluminum marine gangways are built to OSHA requirements for worker safety.
Where can I find product specifications?
You can request a product sheet or download the Hemco Safe Access Catalog for full product details.
Does Hemco supply access equipment for the landside of a marine terminal?
Yes. Terminals that transfer product between vessels and land transport can use Hemco truck and railcar gangways and loading platforms for safe access at every transfer point.
Hemco Marine Gangway Repairs
Many customers know Hemco Industries as the original provider of safe access platforms, but our work reaches the water, too. The barge access gangway in this video is one of three winch-powered systems we built for a customer on the Houston Ship Channel. Like every piece of equipment we make, these units were engineered and manufactured at our facility in Houston, Texas.
Put Safer Vessel Access in Place at Your Facility
If you're planning a new berth or fixing a problem at an existing access point, reach out to our team today. Our marine gangway specialists will work through the details with you and put together a quote for your site. We also offer repairs if your equipment needs service down the road.
Request a Quote