Opinion

New guidance for PBAs with trapdoors. Released 4.11.2020 by NZMPA

by New Zealand Maritime Pilot's Association - published on 6 November 2020 - 492 -

Show comment section |

Rigging Of Combination Boarding Arrangements With Trapdoors

"A guide for Pilot boarding operations in New Zealand when using combination Arrangements with trapdoor."

by The New Zealand Maritime Pilot’s Association - NZMPA
Publication PBA-1, 1st Edition November 2020

Steve Banks, President of NZMPA on social media:
"New guidance for PBAs with trapdoors. Released 4.11.2020 at NZMPA Conference in Dunedin, NZ. Distinct difference to suggestions in many other countries, is that we challenge operators who have the ladder suspended from the accommodation ladder (gangway) and not secured to the ship. SOLAS states that pilot ladder shall be secured to the ship, and securing strongpoints, shackles and ropes shall be as strong as the sideropes."

Download: Rigging Of Combination Boarding Arrangements With Trapdoors (PDF)

New Zealand Maritime Pilot's Association

Editor's note:
Opinion pieces reflect the personal opinion of individual authors. They do not allow any conclusions to be drawn about a prevailing opinion in the respective editorial department. Opinion pieces might be deliberately formulated in a pronounced or even explicit tone and may contain biased arguments. They might be intended to polarise and stimulate discussion. In this, they deliberately differ from the factual articles you typically find on this platform, written to present facts and opinions in as balanced a manner as possible.

What's your opinion on this?

Article Pilots Corner – A perspective from New Zealand

by Chirp Maritime - published on 25 August 2020

The next step for NZMPA is to issue a set of regulator-endorsed guidance notes. The first version will focus on accommodation ladders used in conjunction with pilot ladders.

Article ABP Southampton puts pressure on non-compliant 'trap door' Arrangements

by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 22 April 2020

ABP Southampton: NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that some ships have a pilot transfer arrangement consisting of an accommodation ladder / pilot ladder combination with a trapdoor that does not meet IMO standards in effect since at least 2012.

Article Sandy Hook Pilot Timothy M. Murray lost his life while boarding a ship (08/05/2020)

by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 6 August 2020

On August 5, 2020 at approximately 10:30 pm, Sandy Hook Pilot Captain Timothy M. Murray was involved in an incident while boarding a tanker vessel inbound to the Port of New York & New Jersey. He sustained injuries after falling from a pilot ladder and was evacuated to a local hospital where his injuries proved to be fatal.

Video Pengantaran Pilot Brunei

published on 11 August 2022

Article Securing pilot ladders at intermediate lengths

by Kevin Vallance deep sea pilot and author - published on 6 January 2020

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.

Article Brazil Pilots issue Common Errors in PTA’s notice

published on 26 November 2021

Conapra / Praticagem do Brasil have issued a notice “Common Errors in the pilot boarding arrangement “. In this notice, reference is made to international regulations ( Solas V Reg 23, IMO 1045 and ISO 799 ) as well as national regulations.

Video Pilot On Board

published on 16 January 2021

Video Bulk Carrier "NAMURA QUEEN" & Pilot Boat "SEA LIGHT", Recalada/ 02.04.2005

published on 15 April 2025

#Short #BulkCarrier Ship "NAMURA QUEEN"/ On board #PilotVessel "SEA LIGHT"/ #JP #Recalada #KM239_1 #puntaindiochannel #RioDeLaPlata #Argentina / 02nd. April 2025 - 17:13 Local Time.- This video (with original sound) was filmed on board the Pilot Vessel "SEA LIGHT" and shows the moments in which the Pilot Boat departed from the port side of the Bulk Carrier Ship "NAMURA QUEEN", after finished with the Disembarking Maneuver of the Rio de la Plata Pilot, at #BoardingStation #JP #KM239_1...

Video Pilot boarding

published on 30 August 2021

Video Near miss: VALDIVIA dangerously approached beach in Vlissingen, NL

published on 28 May 2020

Container vessel ALDIVIA (IMO 9333395) was dangerously close to public beach at Vlissingen Netherlands, on May 21, while heading out to sea, en route from Antwerp to Helsinki Finland.
The cause of dangerous approach is unknown, but the ship wasn’t detained, she continued her voyage.