Article

Murphy's law on pilot boarding - Arie Palmers


by Arie Palmers - published on 20 July 2021 -  525 -

1. Any knot that can come loose will do so at the most inconvenient moment

2. Slipknots are called like that for a reason

3. The last bolt of 8 holding the gangway platform up, will let go when a pilot stands on it

4. Gangway platforms that were severely stuck, will suddenly give way when a pilot steps on it

5. Rain always starts 5 minutes before the pilot transfer

6. Wind will start blowing 5 minutes prior to ETA pilot station

7. If there is a way to rig a pilotladder wrong, someone will do so eventually

8. The day you forget your helmet a twistlock will fall down from the vessel you’re attempting to board

9. Automatic lifejackets will inflate automatically at the moment you absolutely don’t want them to

10. From all ways to rig a ladder, the wrong way is the easiest

11. Whenever several things can go wrong, the one that causes most damage will

12. Every solution breeds new problems

13. It’s impossible to make a foolproof pilot ladder securing device because fools are so ingenious

14. You cannot legislate for stupidity

15. Probability of a bow thruster failure is inversely proportionally to distance with the quay

16. If everything seems to be going well, you’re overlooking something

17. The chances of the pilot launch scratching the paint of a vessel is directly proportional to the cost and date of the last drydock paintjob

18. A shortcut to the bridge is always the longest distance between 2 points

19. When you eliminate 4 ways on which a pilotladder can be rigged wrong, a fifth way you’re unprepared for will promptly develop

20. You’re always against the current until you’re almost there

21. Wind is not your friend

22. A safe lee is non existing

23. When there is a chance of getting wet during transfer, you will

24. Pilot launches are exponentially stronger than ankles

MURPHY WAS AN OPTIMIST
sea, river, harbor pilot (westerschelde, oosterschelde and adjacent coastal area) active marine pilot - Loodswezen - NEDERLANDSE LOODSENCORPORATIE


50 years old, without a proper birthday party this year ( thank you corona..) 12 years as a pilot 2 years offshore/tugboats 8 years with juvenile delinquents mv Koningin Juliana, mv Smal Agt 8 years Navy: minehunter, explosive ordnance clearance 2 years army: artillery sergeant

Join the conversation...

Login or register to write comments and join the discussion!
Captain Michal Sinius Poland
on 1 August 2021, 06:21 UTC

Item 16 summs up it all!
1

RC
Ricardo Caballero Vega Panama Canal Pilots Association, Panama
on 20 July 2021, 16:09 UTC

I could not agree more!
1

Read more...

Article Combinations Ladders: "1,000 combinations around" (by Arie Palmers)

by Arie Palmers, Netherlands - published on 13 July 2020

Before you, you see my third article on pilot boarding arrangements. After my two previous articles
(‘1000 ways to secure a pilot ladder’ and ‘1000 ladders around’, I have received a lot of feedback and
also questions to get deeper into the matter of combinations and embarkation platforms.

3

Article Pilots: deaths from unsafe pilot ladders and incompetent crew

published on 22 December 2021

The international pilots association Impa is sounding the alarm about unsafe pilot ladders. According to the pilots, a worldwide survey has shown that access to the ship via the pilot's ladder often does not comply with the regulations.

0

Video Webinar Dangerous Ladders - Capt. Arie Palmers

published on 7 April 2022

Marine Pilot Arie Palmers, who works in the Netherlands, will make a presentation on the irregularities found in the embarkation and disembarkation ladders of ships. After suffering two accidents in 2018, Arie became an inspector of the problems and has been an active voice in search of corrections with shipping companies, manufacturers, certifiers and entities that deal with the theme. According to him, the day-to-day practice shows that more than 50% of the means of access to vessels are...

0

Video SAMIPTA briefing to AMET - safety and innovation in Pilot Ladder.

published on 8 September 2021

AIMPA in association with IMU has organized a Research Paper Competition (SAMIPTA) for cadets of MTI from all disciplines on Pilot ladder risk mitigation and suggest innovative measures to Mitigate risks.

0

Video Senior Pilot Captain ERTAN OZGUR performing departure of MSC MARYLENA

published on 2 January 2023

SENIOR PILOT CAPTAIN ERTAN OZGUR performing departure maneuvering of MSC co ship MSC MARYLENA. She has bowthruster, right handed pitch propeller. She will be using 2 tugboats.

1

Article Can you trust your GNSS data?

published on 23 November 2022

This important topic is still underestimated in shipping! Can you trust your GPS? Your Galileo? Knowing where the ship is and where to sail next is the main task of navigating a ship and is commonly supported by using Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). But what happens if the GNSS gets intentionally disturbed?

2

Video Eden Pilot Station & it's Harbour Masters-Pilots

published on 17 August 2020

Created by Eden Killer Whale Museum in association with a display, 'Navigating the way' looking back at the 160 years of history of Eden's Pilot Station and its harbour masters-pilots.
'Navigating the way' was on display from 19 August 2020.

0

Article Russian Marine Pilot (61) killed in accident on 14 March 2021

by Frank Diegel - published on 17 March 2021

In Novorossiysk (Russia, Black Sea), a marine pilot died during a pilot transfer and an investigation has been launched. The incident occurred on the evening of 14 March at about 21:40.

1

Video ER88 Sea Trials - 16m Pilot Boat: MED-P16

published on 10 January 2021

ER88 Sea Trials - 16m Pilot Boat: MED-P16

0