What to check on a Side Ramp.
A side ramp is hinged into an opening in the shell plating, usually amidships or towards the bow, and swings or slides out to reach the quay independently of the stern ramp. It lets a ferry run simultaneous loading at two points, or serve berths where the stern is occupied by mooring gear, other vessels or a quay layout that does not line up with a stern ramp. Because it penetrates the hull below or near the waterline on many designs, its watertight integrity in the closed position is treated…
What sets a side ramp apart
A side ramp is hinged into an opening in the shell plating, usually amidships or towards the bow, and swings or slides out to reach the quay independently of the stern ramp. It lets a ferry run simultaneous loading at two points, or serve berths where the stern is occupied by mooring gear, other vessels or a quay layout that does not line up with a stern ramp. Because it penetrates the hull below or near the waterline on many designs, its watertight integrity in the closed position is treated as seriously as any shell door.
Main components
Ramp platform
A steel deck plate, often with a folding outer flap to extend reach onto the quay, rated for the axle loads of the vehicle traffic it is designed to take.
Hinges and pivot structure
Heavy pivot bearings built into reinforced hull framing, since the ramp must transmit both its own dead weight and moving vehicle loads back into the ship's structure.
Hydraulic operating cylinders
Raise, lower and in side-loading designs also slew the ramp, with a separate locking system that holds the closed position independently of hydraulic pressure.
Watertight closing arrangement
Cleats, rubber gaskets and indicator lights confirming the ramp is fully closed and locked before the ship can sail, wired into the bridge indicator panel.
Selection and sizing
| Parameter | Relevance |
|---|---|
| Vehicle load rating | Determines whether cars only or also trucks and trailers can use the ramp |
| Freeboard at the opening | Sets how far below the waterline the opening sits and therefore the closure and alarm requirements |
| Ramp angle range | Must match the tidal range and quay height variation of the routes served |
| Slewing capability | Side-loading versus straight side ramps changes berthing flexibility at irregular quays |
Regulations and class
Side ramps and shell doors below the freeboard deck fall under SOLAS Chapter II-1 requirements for watertight doors and openings, developed after several high-profile RoRo losses linked to bow and stern door failures; indicator systems showing the closed and locked state must be provided on the bridge. Class rules set structural scantlings for the ramp and hinge structure based on vehicle loading, and periodic surveys include operational testing of the closing and locking arrangement, not just a visual check.
Typical faults
- Hinge pin wear - years of vehicle loading work the pins loose, letting the ramp rack slightly and strain the locking cleats out of alignment.
- Gasket degradation - UV and salt exposure harden the rubber seal, and a ramp that closes fine visually can still leak under sea state.
- Indicator light faults - a false closed indication is more dangerous than an obvious fault, since the bridge team has no reason to check further.
- Hydraulic cylinder drift - slow seal wear lets the ramp sag over a port stay, loading the locking cleats instead of the hydraulics as designed.
What to look for in a supplier
- Structural certification tied to the actual vehicle load rating required, not a generic ramp design
- Independent mechanical locking that holds position without relying on hydraulic pressure
- Indicator system compatible with the bridge's existing hull opening monitoring panel
- Spare gasket and seal kits sized for the specific ramp, since these wear faster than the steelwork
Test the closed-and-locked indicator against a physical check on a set schedule, not just at survey - an indicator fault that shows closed when the ramp is not fully cleated has been a direct cause of RoRo flooding casualties.