Letter: Design points for ferry safety

Sir: A simple suggestion for roll- on roll-off ferry safety: steel shutters, similar to those used to protect jewellers' shop windows, but stronger, positioned directly behind the vehicle decks' forward visor. They would lie horizontally just below the deckhead when not in use but would be under tension so as to drop into a vertical sealing position during voyages or in the event of power failure.

A number of these might be ranged along the vehicle decks to provide bulkhead protection with minimal loss of loading space. The vessel would then be as seaworthy as others of conventional design.

Yours faithfully,

LEONARD GRUGEON

Shalford, Surrey

3 October