headwalk to a landing on the bulkhead wall or an abutment at the shoulder of a sloping 

 bank. In a floating system, one end of the gangway must be supported on floats; hence it 

 should be lightweight and only long enough to result in some predetermined maximum 

 slope at extreme low water level. The slope is usually specified by the controlling agency; a 

 slope of 1 on 3 is about the maximum that can be traversed safely without the use of cross 

 cleats. If a steeper slope must be used, a hinged staircase with self-levehng steps should be 

 provided. 



In the interest of safety, all gangways should have handrails designed to the same 

 standards as those on the perimeter walls. Gangways are normally narrower than fixed-pier 

 approaches because of the need to save weight. A 3-foot clear width between handrails is 

 usually the minimum, and 4 to 5 feet may be specified if the pier served has many berths or 

 if the gangway traffic is expected to be heavy. Gangways are normally hinged at the top 

 inside edge of a perimeter bulkhead waU. If the perimeter is a sloping bank, a short 

 fixed-approach pier is usually required to reduce the length and weight of the gangway. 



The hinge at the upper end of the gangway should be of fairly rugged design. An example 

 of a gangw:ay that has been standardized for Marina Del Rey, California, is shown in 

 Figure 96. If the gap between the end of the gangway and perimeter deck is greater than 



Figure 96. Rugged gangway "pin-in cradle" hinge. Note loose fit to accommodate lateral 

 movement of gangway. 



155 



