Recent reports have highlighted a concerning upward trend in vessels arriving with unsafe pilot boarding arrangements. These arrangements are frequently found to be non-compliant with the established safety standards outlined in the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Regulation V / 23 and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Resolution A. 1045(27), as amended, reports Marine Safety Forum.
Non Compliant Arrangements
The maritime industry has observed and identified deficiencies and non-compliant boarding arrangements, unsafe rigging of pilot ladders, and a noticeable increase in the poor management of rope ladders.
The transfer of a Marine Pilot between a pilot boat and a ship is an activity that carries significant risks and necessitates careful management. Pilot ladders are specifically engineered to facilitate the safe embarkation and disembarkation of Pilots and other personnel.
Ships are obligated to rig their pilot ladders in strict accordance with the relevant regulations and legislative requirements. The responsibility for ensuring the safe transfer of Marine Pilots rests with every individual directly involved in the process. This includes the pilots themselves, the pilot boat crew, the ship’s master and crew, pilotage providers, Competent Harbour Authorities (CHA), vessel owners and operators, as well as the person being transferred. All parties involved must be thoroughly familiar with the applicable regulations and ensure that safety is never compromised.
Shipping companies bear a legal obligation to provide pilot ladders and ship-borne fittings that conform to the required standards.
Any instances of non-compliant or potentially unsafe ladders and boarding arrangements, or any near-miss incidents associated with a Pilot transfer, must be reported to the Competent Harbour Authority (CHA) and the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (or the equivalent maritime safety authority in other jurisdictions) as soon as it is safe to do so.
Regular Inspection
All arrangements and appliances utilized for pilot transfer must be consistently kept clean, properly maintained, and correctly stowed. Furthermore, these arrangements must undergo regular inspection to guarantee their continued safe operational use.
The rigging of the pilot transfer arrangements, as well as the embarkation and disembarkation of a Pilot, must be supervised by a designated Responsible Officer who possesses effective means of communication with the navigational bridge of the vessel.
Masters and vessels that are scheduled to embark a Marine Pilot should be proactively requested to confirm that their pilot ladder is correctly constructed, has been recently inspected, is in good overall condition, and is rigged in strict accordance with the requirements outlined in the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and relevant International Maritime Organization (IMO) guidelines.
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Source: Marine Safety Forum
