On may 5th, at 0530 in the morning, a 69 year old Japanese pilot fell in the water while boarding the passenger vessel DIAMOND PRINCESS. A message was received by the Nagasaki coastguard station from the pilot boat stating that a pilot had fallen into the water while boarding the […]
News
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 […]
The 2023 review of Pilot Transfer Arrangement Regulations, a chance for innovation?
In the spring of 2023, the IMO Sub-commission on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (NCSR) may start a process of review and amendments to the SOLAS Ch V. reg 23: the regulations regarding Pilot Transfer Arrangements (PTAs). The pilot ladder in use today dates back decades, if not centuries. […]
Impa Safety Campaign Analysis 2018-2022
Every year, the International Maritime Pilots’ Association publishes the results of its annual IMPA SAFETY CAMPAIGN. The following analysis has been made using data from the IMPA Safety Campaign on pilot ladders from 2018 until 2022. The data has been retrieved from the IMPA site and from data of previous […]
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 […]
An Awareness Project : Pilot Transfer Safety Signs
This summer, on July 18th 2022, one of the pilots of YALPAS Pilotage company, Captain Cafer Kiribrahim (64 years old), died when boarding by pilot boat “Yalova Pilot 2” to tanker named “Alhena” at Yalova anchorage area. This tragic incident made all maritime pilots in Türkiye very sad. We bid farewell to Captain […]
1000 Stanchions around
Scheldt pilot Arie Palmers writes: “I have just finished another articl on pilot transfer safety… stanchions.. an other overlooked part of a pilot transfer arrangement. I hope you’ll enjoy reading it. feel free to comment or share, sharing is caring! stay safe everyone!”
Netherlands Navy to build ladders as per SOLAS / ISO standards
The Royal Netherlands Navy has announced that it will start to build and test pilot ladders in accordance with SOLAS chV reg 23 and ISO799-1:2019. This is a huge step forward in respect to Maritime Pilots safety and hopefully this example will be followed by navies around the world. Update […]
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 […]
Hamburg pilots issue pilotladder safety leaflet
Port of Hamburg have issued a very useful pilot ladder safety leaflet for ships visiting the port of Hamburg. In this leaflet, a very clear set of instructions is given to ship’s crews .The leaflet can be downloaded here.