Air carrier flight crew reported missing the turn due to confusion with the location of the taxiway signage being past the actual taxiway. The ramp also had no markings and the taxi line is mostly faded and nonexistent.
Synopsis
Air carrier flight crew reported missing the turn due to confusion with the location of the taxiway signage being past the actual taxiway. The ramp also had no markings and the taxi line is mostly faded and nonexistent.
Narrative
We had a thorough departure brief including threats at the gate prior to pushback. This was the first time for all 3 pilots to fly in and out of EINN.After pushback from Gate XX we were cleared to taxi D1 D2 to Runway 24. The ramp has no markings and the taxi line is faded and nonexistent most of the time. I was extremely cautious and taxied at 5 - 7 knots as we maneuvered in the tight ramp space. We were arcing to the right on the ramp when I saw a taxiway sign 3 - 400 feet ahead and right of the aircraft. The sign had black D1" on yellow background indicating the taxiway was coming up. Unfortunately the sign was placed in the grass hundreds of feet past the actual taxiway which was actually 120 degrees behind my left shoulder. I stopped the aircraft as we were just slightly past the taxiway and didn't want to maneuver aggressively in the tight ramp space.I asked the FO to call Ground and tell them we missed the turn. They said to hold position and a Marshaller would come out and guide us through the turn back around 240 degrees right to the taxiway. It only took about 90 seconds and the Marshaller was dropped from Operations car and guided us.As we taxied out the controller asked us why we missed the turn and the FO said we were confused by the location of the D1 sign being past the actual taxiway."
Second reporter narrative
Taxiing out to runway at EINN. Given instructions to taxi D1; D2 to Runway 24. Taxi instructions were read back to Ground contact and correctly briefed to the crew by the CA. It was the whole crew's first time at EINN (CA; FO; and Relief Pilot). Signage looked strange as the sign was 50 yards past the taxiway in the grass and was black D1 on yellow background. As we are approaching D1 I was following along on my EFB and felt we may overshoot the taxiway and should have spoke up. However; by the time I did we had already overshot the taxiway to where a left turn would've been impractical. We came to a stop and advised Ground Control of the mistake. We were told to hold until a Marshaller could come out and guide us in a right turn back to D1. Once we were marshalled back around we asked if we could continue our taxi as previously instructed. Ground Control said yes and restated taxi instructions of D1; D2 to Runway 24. Rest of taxi uneventful.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.