Can a ferry capsize?

As a RORO ferry rolls, vehicles can break free and slide down if not firmly secured, adversely altering the ship's centre of gravity, accelerating the roll, and possibly turning an otherwise recoverable roll into a capsize.



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Philippine ferry was overloaded when it flipped over, leaving 27 dead, official says. MANILA, Philippines -- The skipper of a Philippine ferry which flipped over in a lake in an accident that killed 27 passengers decided to sail despite knowing that his boat was filled beyond capacity, the coast guard chief said Friday ...

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Common risks during ferry operations include:
  • Pollution discharges.
  • Shifting cargoes.
  • Overboard incidents for both passengers and crew.
  • Collisions with other vessels or structures underway or when docking.
  • Business-related risks, including fraud or bribery.


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Each year somewhere between 800 and 1000 people die in ferry disasters according to Roberta Weisbrod, the executive director of the Worldwide Ferry Safety Association. In the developed world, ferries carrying passengers are relatively safe as we have higher safety standards than the developing world.

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On Oct. 20, 1976, the worst ferry disaster in the history of the United States occurred on the Mississippi River in St. Charles Parish. Seventy-seven lives were lost.

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Tips for a Sinking Boat
  1. Get Everyone Into a Life Jacket. If you don't already have your life jacket on, make sure that yours is secure and ensure that everyone else does the same. ...
  2. Put in a Distress Call. ...
  3. Find the Leak. ...
  4. Use Bilge and Crash Pumps. ...
  5. Head Back to Shore. ...
  6. Take Necessary Supplies. ...
  7. Tips for Preventing Leaks.


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The golden rule is, something will sink if it's heavier than the water it is displacing. Therefore, a bowling ball would sink, but a football would float. In the case of a ferry, gravity pushes down on the boat, but buoyancy helps it stay afloat as it's not as heavy as the space it's taking up.

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How common are ferry boat accidents? Experts at the Worldwide Ferry Safety Association say somewhere between 800 and 1,000 die in ferry accidents annually.

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Where does it go? The waste products from the toilet are actually consigned to a treatment plant in the bowels of the ship were it is purified before being pumped back into the ocean away from land. Raw sewage is not allowed to be discharged into the ocean.

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Hy-Line's fast ferries can go at speeds of up to 34mph, which if you're talking in proper seafaring terminology is 30 knots an hour (1 knot = 1.151 mph)!

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Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO): also known as ”bunker fuel'', it is the most common type of fuel for passenger and cargo ferries. It is widely used due to its lower price compared to other types of clear fuel.

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On Oct. 20, 1976, the worst ferry disaster in the history of the United States occurred on the Mississippi River in St. Charles Parish. Seventy-seven lives were lost.

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Did any of the ferries sink? Fire Island Ferries is proud of its record of never having to abandon ship, but it came close in 1976, when the Fire Island Queen got stuck on a sandbar in the Captree channel, according to Edwin Mooney Jr.'s book, “Ferries to Fire Island: 1856-2003.” Rachelle Blidner explains.

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