Article

Death of Pilot Dennis Sherwood: IMPA President statement to IMO. New photos of Maersk Kensington.


by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 23 January 2020 2464 -

Screenshot from IMPA Statement on Twitter

According to information from social networks, nothing has changed at Maersk Kensington even two weeks after the tragic death of Sandy Hook Pilot Captain Dennis Sherwood on December 30th of 2019. This can be proven by the available pictures of the the so called trapdoor arrangement taken by Tom Rutter (Pilot at Virginia Pilot Association).

photo by Tom Rutter "

IMPA President makes a statement to IMO on January 17th regarding the passing of Captain Dennis Sherwood. A letter to IMO was published via Twitter today. Saying: “This controversial trapdoor arrangement has long been considered unsafe by pilots. It is clearly not in compliance with current SOLAS requirements.” … “Captain Sherwood’s death is a tragic reminder that much more needs to be done.” He demands further that all flag states, port states and ship operator organizations should support an initiative “to get rid of this arrangement, immediately”.

click picture for full view

Marine-Pilots.com also supports all efforts to change these absolutely unsafe circumstances. Stories of these “widow maker” – as some pilots say - trapdoor arrangements must be told to everyone who is involved. It’s time to change. These accidents must not be repeated.

So far, Maersk has only expressed their regrets about the death of Dennis Sherwood in a small note on a maritime news site. The Maersk Kensington reached the nearest port on time after the accident. All Maersk K-class ships have the same trapdoor arrangement as the Maersk Kensington has. To our knowledge no further official statements by Maersk on the trapdoor arrangements on their vessels followed after the accident.

How will Maersk react to the fatal accident?
What steps will the company take for the future and how will they act and react concerning the tragic incident?


Photos from Maersk Kensington by Tom Rutter:

"The Widow Maker"


What's your opinion on this?
Login or register to write comments and join the discussion!
Read more...

Article Sandy Hook pilot Dennis Sherwood has died after falling during embarking

by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 30 December 2019

A pilot of Sandy Hook, Dennis Sherwood fell off a ladder while boarding a ship today at 4:30 a.m. and died of his serious injury in Staten Island hospital.

0

Article In Memoriam of Captain Dennis R. Sherwood (1955 - 2019)

by Bianca Reineke, lutheran Pastor, Germany - published on 3 January 2020

Ladders are the bridges for crossing the rough seas of our lives.
When you are a Marine Pilot at work, hoping and praying that the ladders which let you embark the vessel are stable, safe and not dangerous.
In Memoriam of the late Captain Dennis Sherwood who passed away on Monday the 30th of December.

1

Article Demands made by the Pacific Pilotage Authority on the shipping industry following the death of US Pilot Dennis Sherwood

by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 27 March 2020

The Pacific Pilotage Authority says: "There is a common misunderstanding amongst vessel operators that vessels built prior to 2012 are exempt from some of the requirements for pilot transfer arrangements. This is incorrect...".

0

Video "Golden Ray" harbor pilot details his harrowing experience when it capsized

published on 19 September 2020

Captain Jonathan Tennant has been called a hero for his decision to intentionally ground the Golden Ray, keeping it out of the main shipping channel.

0

Article Helmsman and pilots were operating with different goals

published on 22 April 2025

An ATSB interim report outlines the sequence of events leading to the collision between the container vessel Maersk Shekou and the berthed tall ship STS Leeuwin II in Fremantle on 30 August 2024.

1

Article The scariest 15 minutes of my life

by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 14 August 2019

An authentic report by Marine Pilot Capt. Agha Umar Habib (Port of Sohar, Oman) about a dramatic incident on July 23, 2019.

2

Video UK Ship Pilot Dies | Required Boarding Arrangements for Pilots | How a Pilot Boards | Am Pilot Assoc

published on 19 January 2023

UK Ship Pilot Dies | Required Boarding Arrangements for Pilots | How a Pilot Boards | Am Pilot Assoc

2

Article Taiwan: Pilot fell while boarding container ship and died

published on 23 February 2022

Around 11 am local time yesterday (21 February), a pilot fell into the sea while boarding the feeder vessel Blue Ocean, which is operated by Shanghai Jinjiang Shipping on a China-Taiwan service.

1

Article Hong Kong pilotage dues set to rise for the first time since 2016

published on 20 October 2022

The Hong Kong Pilotage (Amendment) Bill 2022, which was gazetted on 14 October, provides for an adjustment to pilotage fees and clarification of the regulations governing pilot medical examinations.

0

Video Christening of new pilot tender "Mira"

published on 7 April 2020

Christening of new pilot tender "Mira" - a lightweight powerhouse Press Release Hoek van Holland, 2 April 2020 by Next Generation Shipyards On Thursday 2 April, Annebel de Deugd (interim manager fleet management of Nederlands Loodswezen), christened the new Dutch pilots’ tender Mira; one of the lightest tenders in the Nederlands Loodswezen fleet. Lighter than ever The instructions given by Nederlands Loodswezen to ship designer Camarc and shipbuilder Next Generation Shipyards had been clear:...

0