on the video recordings from the wreck, and that there was no documentation from the JAIC that the railings had been removed during the inspection of the wreck. The JAIC states in chapter 3.3.4 that the railings were welded onto the sides of the ramp (4). This is the only information in the report regarding the ramp railings. If, assuming that the JAIC scenario is correct, the ramp had been pulled open by the visor, the railings had followed the ramp to open position. As the ramp according to the JAIC became severely damaged at this stage, let us see what would have happened with the railings.

The upper corners on the closed ramp were bent in a forward direction. On the drawing here I have illustrated what had happened to the railings if they had been on the ramp when it was damaged and fully opened.As the railings were welded to the ramp they surely had been bent outwards when the ramp was bent and damaged. The consequence would have been that they would never have fitted into the opening to the car deck when the ramp closed itself during the sinking scenario.

They should have been stuck between the ramp and the bulkhead like frog legs hanging out of the mouth of a snake.