Article

Capt. Kevin Vallance awarded the Merchant Navy Medal


by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 13 November 2020 689 -

We congratulate Captain Kevin Vallance on receiving the Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service. He is known in our community as a man who is tireless in his efforts to improve safety on ships, especially the safety of pilot ladders. He is an active member of the #dangerousladders group on Facebook and has published several books on pilot ladders.

He is one of the best experts in his field and is well known far beyond his home country.
This award once again casts a spotlight on the safety of embarking and disembarking ships via ladders.
The team of Marine-Pilots.com would like to congratulate and thank you on behalf of our community for your great achievements over the past years.
We would like to refer you to his articles and books (see further content below the article), which are written to make pilot ladders safer.

In 2015 Her Majesty The Queen graciously signed the Royal Warrant for the Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service.

The names of the first recipients were announced on Merchant Navy Day, 2 September 2016, by Shipping Minister John Hayes who went on to say:
"This new state award, with a place in the order of wear, is being awarded to those who are serving or have served in the Merchant Navy and fishing fleets of the UK, Isle of Man or Channel Islands for exemplary service and devotion to duty, rewarding those who have set an outstanding example to others. Coinciding with Merchant Navy Day, it provides an opportunity to remember the sacrifices of our brave seafarers of the past and to show our appreciation for British shipping today and in the future."
What's your opinion on this?
Login or register to write comments and join the discussion!
Read more...

Article Pilot Transfer Arrangements

by Captain Kevin Vallance MNI - published on 2 October 2019

Most pilot embarkations and disembarkations around the world, are still carried out using a traditional pilot ladder, consisting of wooden steps supported and secured by side ropes.

1

Article A contempt for pilot safety and total disregard for the contents of the SOLAS Convention.

by Captain Kevin Vallance MNI - published on 4 October 2019

Tuesday, October 1st is the start date of the latest International Maritime Pilot Association's annual Safety Campaign.

Previous campaigns by the association have consistently shown results of pilot ladder deficiencies around the 20% mark.

0

Article Origins of the IMPA pilot mark

by Kevin Vallance deep sea pilot and author - published on 24 October 2019

There are many things in both our everyday and professional lives which we take for granted and never question the origins of, an example of this might be the IMPA recommended ‘pilot mark or pilot line’, which is sometimes seen on the side of vessels indicating where a vessels freeboard exceeds 9 metres.

4

Opinion Column: Keeping the Pilot safe (by Michael Grey)

by Baird Maritime - published on 21 January 2022

There are some problems that never seem to go away and one is the perennial difficulties in providing a safe way of getting pilots on and off a ship.

0

Video Cargo ship emergency at Port Tampa Bay

published on 9 September 2024

It was a near-miss Thursday morning at Port Tampa Bay as a harbor pilot managed to stop a cargo ship from crashing. The ship experienced a mechanical failure as it pulled into port. FOX 13 Tampa Bay brings you the important videos like breaking news, Tampa Bay weather, and local stories. But also plenty of fun stuff, like 'We Live Here' tips, the best of our archives, and all those 'only-in-Florida' stories. Subscribe to FOX 13 News: https://www.youtube.com/FOX13TampaBay?sub_confirmation=1...

0

Video IMPA receives the 2022 SAFETY4SEA Initiative Award

by SAFETY4SEA - published on 20 October 2022

International Maritime Pilots' Association (IMPA) received the 2022 SAFETY4SEA Initiative Award for conducting annually its ‘Pilot Ladder Safety Campaign’ with the objective of reporting pilots’ experiences of ladders and boarding equipment to the IMO and the wider shipping community. Other distinguished short-listed nominees of this category were: Inmarsat, International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA), Safetytech Accelerator and Seafarers Hospital Society. We are honored to be...

1

Article Jamaica: Pilots demanding COVID vaccination or they stop working

published on 10 April 2021

President of the Marine Pilot Association, Hubert Kerr, said that the pilots will not be satisfied with just being placed on a priority list, but are instead advocating for the actual jab to boost their protection against COVID-19, given their interaction with persons from different countries daily.

0

Article Malaysia Pilots want to prioritise vaccination

published on 7 June 2021

While in many western countries of the world, pilots there have already been preferentially vaccinated against COVID-19, pilots in other countries such as Malaysia are struggling to get vaccinated.

0

Article PTR Holland offers free pilot ladder load test

published on 1 December 2021

Register your pilot or embarkation ladder today and receive a free 30 months mandatory load test, when the ladders been delivered to one of our factories in Rotterdam, Singapore, New Castle UK or Houston Texas.

0

Video Simplified Vector Approach for POD forces – samples and limitations

published on 23 February 2022

This movie belongs to the operation of ships with POD propellers and discusses the approach for using a vector model from only the pods’ thrust forces as resulting force to imagine the potential effect of the pods on manoeuvring motion.

1