Counterfeit pilot ladders and certificates—advisory note This Pilot Advisory Note (PAN) advises AMSA-licensed coastal pilots and pilotage providers about the existence of counterfeit pilot ladders and associated certification. Background In March 2019, one of AMSA’s Port Marine Surveyors identified a pilot ladder onboard a vessel which appeared (on initial inspection), […]
Regulations
USCG Safety Alert on Handhold Stanchions
On February 9th, 2023 Unites States Coast guard issued a safety alert (04-22-CH1) in which attention is drawn to the correct positioning of handhold stanchions onboard of ships. This Safety Alert addresses the importance of verifying the correct arrangement of handholds in embarkation gate arrangements aboard merchant vessels. The Coast […]
Pilbara Ports make ladder testing as per ISO 799 mandatory
In a recent Local Marine Notice 12/22, the port of Port Hedland has made the industry standard ISO 799-1 mandatory for all ships calling the port from may first 2023. This means that ship are only allowed to use pilot ladders over 30 months old after they have been tested […]
USCG issue Safety Alert on handhold arrangements
This Safety Alert addresses the importance of verifying the correct arrangement of handholds in embarkation gate arrangements aboard merchant vessels. The Coast Guard is currently investigating a casualty involving a fall from a pilot ladder where the handholds in the gate arrangement aboard the vessel terminated without being rigidly secured […]
The EU Marine Equipment Directive (MED), what does it mean?
On many pilot ladders the sign of a small steering wheel is depicted in the certificate and on the pilot ladder as well. What does that mean? The simple answer is: The steering wheel is the symbol of compliance with the EU Marine Equipment Directive. But there is much more […]
ABP Southampton port issues Pilot Ladder Safety Notice
Port of Southampton recently issued the following safety notice which speaks for itself : Several incidents have recently been reported of vessels presenting themselves with unsafe pilot boarding arrangements which do not meet the requirements set out in SOLAS V regulation 23 and IMO Resolution A.1045 (27).It is the responsibility […]
Bahamas Maritime Authority Launches Concentrated Inspection Campaign on PTA’s
Bahamas Maritime Authority, the agency managing the Bahamas flag of registry, on June 21st launched a technical alert in which it announces a concentrated inspection campaign (CIC) on Pilot Transfer Arrangements. This CIC is to take place on all Bahamas registered ships, and it runs from July 1st, 2021 until […]
USCG issues Guidance on Pilot Ladder approval in line with ISO 799-1:2019
The U.S. Coast Guard’s Office of Design and Engineering Standards (CG-ENG) has published a policy letter on the approval of pilot ladders and embarkation ladders. CG-ENG Policy Letter No. 01-21 provides equipment manufacturers guidance to seek approval of pilot ladders and embarkation ladders that meet ISO 799-1:2019 or ISO 5489:2008, respectively. In addition to […]
Securing Pilot Ladders at Intermediate Lengths
By: Kevin Vallance Over the past few years a number of pilot transfer accidents have occurred resulting from total failure of the side ropes, one school of thought is that the methods of securing a pilot ladder is a factor in such occurrences. In my opinion the current regulations for […]
China urges IMO to improve pilot ladder safety regulations
China has urged the IMO Sub Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (NSCR) to consider the following issues relating to pilot transfer arrangements (PTA’s): China acknowledges that trapdoor incidents have been expienced in their national waters. Furthermore, China identified the following issues regarding pilot ladder safety: IMPA reported […]