A319 HITS JETWAY DURING PARKING CAUSING ENG DAMAGE.

Narrative

I TAXIED THE ACR A319 FLT TOWARDS THE GATE AFTER LNDG AT RDU. THE PARKING RAMP WAS CLR; AND THE JETWAY APPEARED TO BE BEHIND THE RED PAINTED SAFETY ZONE. A MARSHALLER GAVE APPROPRIATE WAND SIGNALS ALIGNING MY ACFT WITH THE LEAD-IN LINE; AND I TURNED THE TAXI LIGHT OFF GIVING THE MARSHALLER CTL/RESPONSIBILITY FOR GUIDANCE OF THE ACFT INTO PARKING. THE MARSHALLER GAVE STANDARD SIGNALS FOR ALIGNMENT; SLOWING AND STOPPING. I STOPPED THE ACFT AT HIS SIGNAL AND SET THE PARKING BRAKE. I FELT THAT THE ACFT STOPPED JUST A BIT ABRUPTLY FOR THE PRESSURE I HAD EXERTED ON THE BRAKE PEDALS. MY FO LEFT THE FLT DECK TO PERFORM A WALKAROUND PREFLT INSPECTION FOR OUR NEXT FLT; BUT HE RETURNED WITHIN 1 MIN TO ADVISE ME THAT THE JETWAY HAD IMPACTED THE #1 ENG COWL PUTTING A GASH (APPROX 2 INCHES BY 8 INCHES) IN THE COWL. THE JETWAY HAD IN FACT BEEN OUT OF POS FOR AN A319 (TOO LOW? WRONG PLACE WITHIN RED SAFETY ZONE?); AND THE MARSHALLER EVIDENTLY DID NOT SEE IT AS HE MARSHALED MY ACFT INTO PARKING. THE #1 ENG COWL STRUCK THE JETWAY JUST BEFORE THE MARSHALLER GAVE THE STOP SIGNAL.