Singapore's AZ Marine Offshore Services has been fined for a fatal accident in 2016.
The yard and its operations manager Soh Eng Bee must pay SGD 200,000 ($153,000) and SGD 80,000 respectively following the incident that killed engineer Lim Meng Hoe.
The country's ministry of manpower (MoM) said Pan-United Shipping had hired AZ Marine for the berthing of two of its vessels.
Lim was due to carry out engine checks and supervise crew working on minor repairs, Channel NewsAsia reported.
The engineer had crossed a gangway placed between the quay and the bow of the 277-gt tug AZ Marigold (built 2009).
"As the boats were berthed side by side with bows facing the quay, the deceased had to climb over at least four vessels to reach vessels PU2416 and PU3202," said MoM.
In his attempt to climb across one, his left hand slipped and Lim fell through the gap and into the sea.
MoM found AZ Marine did not provide safety instructions on vessel-to-vessel access at the yard.
No gangways provided
"It did not provide any gangways or other means to enter or exit berthed vessels safely. There were also no designated crossing points between vessels berthed at the shipyard," MoM said.
"As a result, persons attempting vessel-to-vessel access are required to identify a point to cross between vessels based on their own assessment. They end up having to climb over the gunwale and stand on the fender or fender tyres before crossing over to the other vessel.
"This is an unsafe method. With no proper handhold or foothold provided, anyone attempting to access the vessels was at risk of falling into sea."
Soh, entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring workers' safety at the shipyard, did not take action even when he was aware that workers were entering and leaving the vessels in an unsafe manner, MoM added.
He was himself accessing vessels in the same manner, MoM said.
