1,000 ways to secure a Pilot Ladder

photos, graphics and article by Arie Palmers


1. Introduction

Content:
1. Introduction
2. Deck tongue
3. Bulwark setup
4. Platform placed over the securing area of the ladder
5. Spreader
6. Human force
7. Combinations
8. Embarkation platform (a.k.a. “trapdoor-system”)
9. Pilot ladder winch reel
10. Shackles (why and why not)
11. Correct way of securing the ladder
12. Epilogue

Dear reader,

My name is Arie Palmers and I am working as a pilot in the Scheldemonden area since 2009. After I got
involved in 2 incidents with minor injuries in one week in the spring of 2018, I started wondering
whatever might have caused these 2 incidents and therefore I started developing an interest in pilot
ladders and the way they are secured.
From that moment on I have been keeping a tally of the non compliant boarding arrangements I see
in front of me on a daily basis, and off course I participate in the annual safety campaign, conducted
by IMPA each october. The outcome of the campaign is that about 18-20% of the boarding
arrangements are non compliant in accordance with:
- SOLAS Regulation V/23
- IMO Resolution A.1045(27)
- NEN ISO 799-1(2019)

In my own tally the outcome is even more staggering: 47% of the pilot boarding arrangements I have
to encounter are non compliant….What does this difference mean??? That will be work enough ahead
for another article…..On a daily basis we see numerous of different ways a pilot ladder is secured, the
vast majority of them is non compliant and therefore dangerous for the user. Insurance companies
might even deny liability after an incident because you could have known or should have known the
arrangement was dangerous. If you still use it, it’s on your own behalf….
In the next few chapter’s I will discuss the arrangements we see a lot, and explain why they are non
compliant. As the title already suggests : 1000 ways to rig a ladder, only on of them is right. Names of
the vessels involved, will not be displayed in the article, just out of politeness.. The facebook page
“dangerousladders” often displays names and destinations of the vessels involved, mainly to warn our
collegues in the port of destination that a present is underway.
I wish you all good readings and please feel free to comment and share. Please keep coming back home
vertically and not horizontally!!
Also check facebook: dangerousladders

2. Deck Tongue.

A photo explains more than a 1000 words… Here we see an example of a so called deck tongue,
installed on one of our regular visitors. Seems like a great and simple solution to install and adjust a
pilot ladder, ingenious invention! Unfortunately this system is non compliant and therefore
downright dangerous for anyone who might have to use it (pilots, agents, surveyors, crew changes
etc etc).

Here we see the decktongue in use holding the ladder, or to put it better, holding one step. Besides
all this, the ladder seems rather old and worn. Let’s have a look at the regulations to explain why this
setup is dangerous.
IMO A.1045(27) states: The side ropes of the pilot ladder should consist of two uncovered ropes not
less than 18mm in diameter on each side and should be continuous, with no joints and have a
breaking strength of 24 Kilo Newtons per side rope (2.2.1)
ISO799-1(2019) states that each step shall have a strenght of at least 8,8 kN (table A.1 production
test).
IMO1045(27) 2.1.1 the securing points etc shall be at least as strong as the sideropes.
After reading this, we find out that each siderope can handle 2400 kilos (4800 together) and that
each step can handle a weight of 880 kilos. The strenght of the deck tongue? Don’t have the slightest
idea….. is it tested and certified?
So we buy a tested ladder that can handle about 5 tonnes on the sideropes, and then we put a step
that can carry 880 kilos behind a steel plate…. One touch of the pilot lauch and it’s gone, rather
inconvenient for the poor guy standing on the ladder at that moment…
Swell, swinging of the ship or the launch lifting the ladder can also have the dangerous result that the
ladder comes loose out of this deck tongue and goes overboard….
Besides that, SECURING a ladder is something totally different dan putting it behind a piece of
welded steel. We all climb ladders without being secured in any way…. SOLAS and IMO provide the
minumum safety rules concerning the ladders, less is absolutely not more in this case..


3. Bulwark setup

Another easy way to prepare a ladder: throw it over the railing, tie the sideropes together with a
piece of rope you found on deck and you have the ladder ready in a jiffy!!The ladder is not a pilot
ladder, something to get into in another article..
We have already seen that the ladder has to be secured to strongpoints on deck, well…a railing is not
a deck, seems easy peasy and yet it goes wrong time after time, why? Maybe it looks easier to rig it
this way.

We have already seen that the ropes of the ladder can handle almost 5 tonnes on each side, just a
question for the reader: are you sure the railing can handle 5 tonnes? We have all seen beaten up
and damaged railings in our career, who of you hasn’t stepped on a railing piece of steel, and it gave
way? We’ll never be able to find out who spotwelded the railing in a far away shipyard many years
ago
For sure a railing can’t handle 2 times 5 tonnes.
Conclusion: ‘securing’a ladder on a piece of railing is non compliant and therefore dangerous..if it’s
non compliant, it’s dangerous…don’t use it!
Have them secure the ladder to strongpoints on deck and don’t forget to report them.



4. Platform placed over the securing area of the ladder

Having a platform built over the securing area of the pilot ladder is absolutely not illegal, it can even
improve te acces: no debri or other tripping hazards.
BUT, 99 out of 100 times, when you lift the lid, there’s a surprise underneath: a steel bar (wich we’ll
discuss later) a deck tongue or just nothing to hold the arrangement in place.


Basically, whenever you encounter a platform over the ladder, just ask them to lift it because you
want to check the way of securing. As we have seen in the last photo, there was no securing at all!
A nice and swift way for the crew to install, and it can be a swift way for you to get down to the deck
level of the pilot boat.
Secured to strongpoints on deck? No..
Secured to strongpoints? No..
Secured? No..
Again it’s non compliant and therefore dangerous, don’t use it. Have them secure it to strongpoints
on deck and don’t forget to report the vessel.
Instead of getting down the ladder you’ll be walking the plank…

Secured to strongpoints on deck?	No..
Secured to strongpoints?	No..
Secured?	No..

Again it’s non compliant and therefore dangerous, don’t use it. Have them secure it to strongpoints on deck and don’t forget to report the vessel.
Instead of getting down the ladder you’ll be walking the plank…


5. Spreader

A spreader is a great invention to prevent a pilot ladder from twisting. Without a spreader you might
look at the horizon instead of the ship’s side all of a sudden. How to get back in a good position when
something like that happens? Therefore every ladder with more than 5 steps must have a spreader
(IMO A.1045(27) rule 2.1.4).
That is what a spreader is made for and not for keeping a ladder secured to strongpoints on deck.
As we know from an earlier statement in the article, steps can handle 880kilos and sideropes 2400
kilos each. That’s the main reason you can and will not secure it this way. On touch of the pilot boat
and the ladder will be damaged beyond repair, as will be the poor soul standing on the ladder…


6. Human force

I feel very lucky i’ve never ran into this method, but at least 2 of my collegues have. Let’s just assume
you have to board a vessel, the ladder has to be lowered a bit, wich goes rather rapidly and before
you know it you look up, see a smiling face and thumbs up “ ready mr. pilot!!”
The you start climbing, what might be a real Jacob’s ladder, you reach the top and 2 quite overweight
guys stand on the sideropes on deck… horrible
They must have read the instructions wrong. The instructions clearly state: the ladder has to be
secured to strongpoints on deck and not to strong men on deck. After this case the vessel was
reported, captain was angry, not with the guys on deck but with the pilot for reporting his vessel..


7. Combinations

Solas 23 clearly states (3.3.1): a pilot ladder requiring a climb of not less than 1,5 m and not more
than 9 m above the surface of the water etc.etc.
Why 1,5 m? Well wait and see where you want to grab with a pilot ladder on a low freeboard of the
vessel you have to climb onto… 3 steps over the side and nothing to hold on to.
Why 9 m? To make something clear: this has nothing to do with the lenght of the ladder, but only
with the distance from the watersurface to the deck entry point >> more than 9m? Combination..
If you drop down from distances over 9 m there is a significant risk of severe injuries or even death
when you fall down. It’s all about the acceleration..(FUBAR)
We have seen that I wrote in the above picture the set up was non compliant, but why? Looks allright
or not?
To start with, the ladder is tied to the gangway. Both ladder and gangway have to be secured to the
hull independantly, and not together… You see the ladder is not attached tot he hull this way.
Ok. Suppose they have sorted this issue and you start climbing. You reach the platform and there’s
nothing to hold on to. On both sides of the platform there have to be hand hold stanchions (and
horizontal ropes) so you can safely transfer from the ladder tot he platform.
IMO A.1045(27)
3.2 angle of the gangway under 45 degrees
3.3 lower platform horizontal and secured tot he ship’s side. At least 5 m above the water
3.5 stanchions and rigid handrails
3.6 ladder adjacant tot he platform, maximum distance 0,2m, secured tot he ships side

8. Embarkation platforms



Another name often used for this platform is “trapdoor system”. Another wonderful invention to rig a ladder, at least a number of people must have thought it would be a great system. The problem is however, the more risk on non compliancies, the more there will be.. (Keep It Stupid Simple).
Ok, let’s go tot he “rulebook” to see what’s wrong with this setup…
IMO A.1045(27) 3.7 is the most important one in this case. It tells us the ladder has to “extend above the lower platform tot he height of the handrail and remain in alignment with and against the ship’s side..
We have already seen that the ladder has to be secured to strongpoints on deck, not the case here
Also we saw that the ladder and platform have to be secured tot he ship’s hull, not the case here.
More often than not the platform has to be adjusted in height to make a safe approach of the pilot boat possible. This always happens in a jiffy which means, the winch is not mechanically secured and the system is not secured tot he ships hull..all that is keeping you alive are the steel wires..
The ladder is attached under the platform, and we know now this is not correct. Whenever you reach the top of the ladder, you have to lean back, grab some pieces of steel and drag yourself through the gap (750x750mm) in the platform.. during rain this system works as a nice shower aswell: water collected on the platform and gangway will find it’s way down throught the gap.
Here are a lot of reasons why someone climbing this setup can fall back down into the water or onto the pilot boat. And yes it happens every year again, with severe injuries or worse. It’s inconvenient, slippery and dangerous, reject and abort.
So the ladder has to run through the platform, must be secured to the already mentioned strongpoints, and had to rest firmly against the ship’s hull aswell, all not the case here.
I would love to show a compliant embarkation platform system, but in over 10 years of pilotage I have come across the most sickening phantasies in construction but never ever a compliant one, sorry dear reader..

9. Pilot ladder winch reel



First the “IMO-rulebook”again…
7.1.1 Postion of the winch must provide unobstructed access to the ship. Here we see it’s not the case: if you keep climbing you’ll end up on top of the winch..
7.1.2 Point of access may be a ship’s side opening, accomodation ladder or a single section of pilot ladder. In this set up you have to step sideways to the deck and in another section of this article we have already seen this is not allowed. What if, due to the freeboard a spreader is obstructing your unobstructed access??
7.1.3 The access position and area should be clear of obstructions. Therefore the winch has to be placed basically out of your way
And the most important rule I want to stress on in this part is rule 7.4.2: the pilot ladder should be secured to a strongpoint independant of the pilot ladder winch reel AND 7.4.3: the ladder should be secured at deck level inside the ship’s opening or, when located on the ship’s upper deck, at a distance of not less then 915mm horizontally from the ship’s side inwards.



Here we see a part of the well known pilot ladder poster, it makes the rule clear. Suppose the ladder is secured tot he deck at the opening? This is a risk for someone climbing: when he reaches in, he can grab hold of a part of the ladder on the other side of the securing and fall down.. it has happened to one of my collegues overhere, he wasn’t able to work for over 6 months and gained a few kilos in weight only due to the nuts and bolts keeping his foot together. You’ll understand the 915 mm makes sense. Haven’t met anyone yet with arms longer than 915mm.
Also the system is secured in more ways: the ladder is secured to strongpoints, the winch is on the brake and (7.5.6)a mechanical device or locking pin should also be utilized to lock powered winch reels.
Again we see: the more difficult, the more non compliances.



In this final picture in this section we can clearly see the spreader is obstructing your safe access tot he ship, and again you have to stumble side ways.
Conclusion in this section: RTFM, or look at the poster



10. Shackles (why and why not)



On the photo we see that the shackles have been used often to keep the ladder in place. The photo shows really well what effect the steel shackles have on the manilla ropes: twisted and beaten up…just wonder if this ladder will pass the 30-month compulsary strenght test (ISO799-1/2019 10.4, for iso certified vessels).Shackles are an easy way for the crew to keep a ladder in place, but is it actually securing the sideropes??? No it’s not..when weight is put on the ladder, the ladder will move freelly under the shackles until the next chocks and step has reached the shackles.
Basically the ladder will be held in place solely by step and chocks. Let’s think back a moment, we have seen that each siderope can handle 2400 kilos and that a step can handle 880 kilos.
If or when the pilot lauch hits the ladder, it will be ripped to pieces..880 kilos instead of 4800 kilos.
So we see that the shackles ruin the sideropes and that the force is put tot he steps and not the sideropes. Why still use this setup would be an genuine question. The answer is simple: IMO allows it:
IMO A.1045(27): 2.1.1 the securing strong points,shackles, and securing ropes should be at least as strong as the sideropes specified etc etc.
This sentence is the only permission in the IMO regulations for using shackles over ropes, with the result we have seen on the photo. Different countries (New Zealand, UK etc) have already declared shackles non compliant… have you rigged a ladder with shackles? Ok no pilot for you!



11. Correct way of rigging a ladder

After all the don’ts finally a do…. What is the best practice to secure the ladder to strongpoints on deck