Recently, V-ships encountered some vessels with a dangerous pilot ladder winch setup. The safety management of the company approached pilotladdersafety.com for advice, and together we came up with a solution. As can be seen from the pictures, there was no possibility to secure the ladder at intermediate length before the […]
News
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 […]
Lloyd’s Register PTA instruction video
Lloyds Register has produced a clear instruction video on the safe setup of pilot ladders. This short animated movie serves as a quick reference for surveyors, pilots and schip’s crews to ensure the pilot ladder they are about to use is safe. The high quality video shows the basic checks […]
Test Your Knowledge about PTA’s, do the quiz!
During the last year, on many occasions I came to the conclusion that training is of vital importance in order to increase the awareness on the safe use of pilot ladders. This website was primarily meant as a reference for mariners, pilots and ship operators. This website can now be […]
AIMPA launches a PTA innovation initiative
The All India Maritime Pilots’ Association (AIMPA) is launching a research paper competition on pilot ladder innovation, in conjunction with the Indian Maritime University. Capt. Gajanan Karanjikar, president of AIMPA stated: ” This is first of its kind event happening in India involving students of Maritime Training centers (148 of […]
AIMPA issues “Guidance to ships for safe rigging of Pilot Ladders”
The All India Maritime Pilots’ Association (AIMPA) issued a comprehensive guidance on the safe rigging of pilot ladders. This document could serve as an additional guideline to the existing rules and regulations, since as stated in its introduction: ” … , in addition to the guidance already provided on board […]
“Balance, or no balance?”, the use of the inboard stanchion.
Whenever a combination ladder is used for pilot transfer operations, sometimes the inner stanchion on the bottom platform is not used. Maybe the thought behind this is: ” It is on the inboard side, so the pilot does not need it to prevent him from falling overboard.” The reason for […]
Scheldt Pilots issue PTA advice to all visiting ships
The pilots on the Scheldt river, serving Antwerp, Gent and the Dutch ports of Flushing and Terneuzen, have issued a joint statement in which all visiting ships are strongly adviced to comply with Pilot Transfer Arrangements (PTA’s) regulations and guidelines. The notice shows good and bad practice examples on the […]
Pilot Ladder checklist, why not?
When looking into the main non-compliances regarding pilot transfer arrangements, it can be noted that most of them can easily be fixed onboard. A lot of them can be attributed to lack of training, lack of awareness and lack of time. The easiest way to prevent non-compliance’s from happening in […]
Chirp Annual Digest 2020
In the latest issue of CHIRP Annual Digest, a full chapter on pilot boarding and pilotage has been included. A six page article by Arie Palmers, maritime pilot in het scheldt estuary, named 1000 ways to secure a pilot ladder, and only one way is correct is included. An excellent […]