ACR WDB ACFT'S WING TIP STRIKES JETWAY DURING RAMP OP ACFT PARKING PROC.

Narrative

THE ANGLE OF THE SUN CAUSED THE LEAD-IN LIGHTS OF THE ACCUPARK AT SFO GATE TO APPEAR OPERATIONAL. WE CONTINUED TO TAXI UNTIL WE FELT TOO CLOSE TO THE TERMINAL FOR A NORMAL OP. WE SUSPECTED THE ACCUPARK WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND STOPPED THE ACFT. WE WERE LATER INFORMED THAT THE ACFT WING HAD CONTACTED THE JETWAY. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: NO PRIOR INFO FROM RAMP CTL THAT THE ACCUPARK MAY NOT BE FUNCTIONAL AND THAT A GUIDEMAN MIGHT BE NECESSARY. MORNING SUN WAS DIRECTLY IN OR FACES OBSCURING OUR VISION. WINDSHIELDS WERE VERY DIRTY FROM FLT FURTHER OBSCURING OUR VISION. NUMEROUS GND PERSONNEL IN THE GATE AREA PRESENTED AN 'OPS NORMAL' APPEARANCE THAT EVERYONE WAS IN PLACE. NO INDICATION FROM GND PERSONNEL OR RAMP CTL THAT WE WERE TAXIING CLOSE TO A JETWAY. ALL PLTS WERE UNINFORMED OF ANY PROBLEMS UNTIL THE FO CONTACTED THE COMPANY RAMP TO QUERY THE LOCATION OF THE PAX AGENTS. THAT'S WHEN WE WERE FIRST INFORMED 'ACFT DAMAGE'. MECHS DID NOT CONNECT TO ACFT INTERPHONE FOR A LONG TIME AND WHEN THEY DID; WE WERE NOT INFORMED OF ANY PROBLEMS. SOLUTIONS: HAVE A GUIDEMAN PARK THE ACFT DURING EARLY MORNING FLTS WHEN THE ACCUPARK INFO MAY BE OBSCURED BY LCL CONDITIONS. COMPANY OPS SHOULD INFORM THE CREW IF ACCUPARK WILL NOT BE OPERATING AND A GUIDEMAN WILL ASSIST IN THE PARKING OP. TRAIN ALL GND PERSONNEL TO 'SPEAK UP' AND TAKE ACTION IF A SERIOUS PROBLEM IS DETECTED; IE; THE HAND SIGNAL TO STOP THE ACFT IMMEDIATELY. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 223640. WIDEBODY ACFT NEED TO HAVE THE WINDSCREEN CLEANED MORE FREQUENTLY.