- BTA and UK Maritime Pilots’ Association published a pocket guide for pilots.
- This guide, now in its second edition, was written by members of the BTA in conjunction with the UK Maritime Pilots’ Association.
- Captain Simon Pelletier highlighted the risks in a letter to IMO.
BTA and UK Maritime Pilots’ Association published a pocket guide for pilots and ICS and IMPA updated guidance on pilot transfer safety, says an article published on Riviera website.
Launch of new Pilots Pocket Guide
Two guides have been updated, with the backing of the maritime and towage communities, to improve safety for pilots and ships in port.
The British Tugowners Association (BTA), in collaboration with the UK Chamber of Shipping, has launched its new Pilots’ Pocket Guide and Checklist to reduce risks during ship towage in harbours.
This guide, now in its second edition, was written by members of the BTA in conjunction with the UK Maritime Pilots’ Association to promote safer towage and ship manoeuvres.
Aim of guide
It is aimed at maritime pilots and encourages better communication with tug masters during what can be hazardous and complicated operations.
It promotes improved risk assessment and communications between all parties, better planning to understand what can go wrong and high levels of seamanship.
UK Maritime Pilots’ Association chairman Hywel Pugh says there are bullet points and checklists in the second edition.
“This new edition is a good aid memoire for all pilots to carry,” he says. “It has more detail covering the whole range of harbour towage and escort towage do’s and do not’s which are clear, simple and imperative. It is a great companion to have with you.”
This guide draws on industry best practice and uses checklists, coupled with guidance for those responsible for directing tugs during harbour towage.
BTA chair Scott Baker says there is greater emphasis in this edition of “pilotage planning and sharing mental models between crews.”
He says there is more information for tugboat familiarisation to explain which tugs should be used at which ports and times.
“The new generation of tugs is able to do more,” Mr Baker says. “We have learned more about how these tugs operate and their limitations.” He also says collaboration and communications are vital for safe tug operations and pilotage.
“It is all about communications, communications, communications. Collaborative working prevents fatalities among tug crews.”
Developing the pilotage plan
This second edition introduces new content, including greater emphasis on developing the pilotage plan for a shared mental model between all crews.
It has improved two-stage checklists, a section on closed-loop communications to protect against false mutual understandings for safety critical information.
Pilots’ Pocket Guide and Checklist also highlights the value of briefings and debriefings, and breaks down best practice by period of operation, such as pre-arrival, making fast and manoeuvring.
This provides guidance on reporting dangerously weighted heaving lines, tow points and girting risk, where the tug can capsize during towage operations.
BTA technical chair Jon Hawkins says there was input from the Workboat Association and Shipowners P&I to this second edition. “Tugs and pilots work together and we believe this guide will further improve safety through better teamwork.”
Raise concerns about poorly rigged ladders
In a separate move, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and International Maritime Pilots’ Association (IMPA) produced an updated guide to maritime pilot transfer safety to raise industry concerns about poorly rigged ladders causing severe injuries or fatalities.
The Shipping Industry Guidance on Pilot Transfer Arrangements features a new section with IMO’s guidance on combination embarkation platform arrangements. It includes provisions for a ‘trapdoor arrangement’ in combination ladders, the minimum size of the opening and rigging procedures.
IMPA chairman Captain Simon Pelletier highlights that a trapdoor arrangement is unsafe for pilots. He urges IMO to prohibit this dangerous pilot-transfer ladder arrangement and requests flag states, port states and ship operators to do whatever it takes to “get rid of this arrangement immediately”.
ICS senior marine advisor Gregor Stevens agrees these arrangements are unsafe.
“The consensus among the maritime stakeholders is the ladders themselves are fine. The issue is how they are rigged and whether crew have undergone the right training to ensure the safest operating procedures are applied,” he says.
Captain highlight the risks in a letter to IMO
Introducing Iridium Certus 200 Captain Simon Pelletier highlighted the risks in a letter to IMO on 17 January 2020 following the case of Captain Dennis Sherwood, who fell to his death while boarding container ship Maersk Kensington as it arrived at the Port of New York and New Jersey.
He was using a combination arrangement of a pilot ladder and an accommodation ladder, the typical set-up when the ship’s point of access is more than nine metres from the water.
For this arrangement, Capt Sherwood had to climb through a trapdoor in the platform of the accommodation ladder. This requires a pilot to pull themself up through the trapdoor while twisting to get a secure footing on the platform.
Endorse by the different maritime organisations
The ICS/IMPA pilot transfer arrangements guidance complies with IMO’s SOLAS convention on minimum safety standards in shipping. It is endorsed by the following maritime organisations:
- Baltic and International Maritime Council
- Cruise Lines International Association
- International Group of Protection and Indemnity Clubs
- International Federation of Shipmasters’ Associations
- INTERCARGO
- International Transport Workers’ Federation
- The Nautical Institute
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Source: Rivera
