Opinion

Pilot ladders: Compliance by design, failure by operator

by Herman Broers - published on 10 March 2022 - 359 -

Show comment section |

Text and photos by Herman Broers (Author) and pilotladdersafety.com

It is not often that this blog is used to show bad practice, however in this case some pictures tell a whole story. Ship is compliant by design for rigging a combination. How about the operator(s)?

he recessed supporting points are not used for securing the ladder at 1,5 meters above the combination platform.
The securing point for the platform itself is not properly used.
To solve the problem, a makeshift device is used to attach the pilot ladder to the platform. That is not required / compliant. This solution is not working anyway, as can be seen in the attached pictures.

That is three failures in one go. The fact that a makeshift solution has been made shows that the ship’s management from top to bottom is unaware of the proper rigging of the combination ladder.

There is only one solution: Training! ( and maybe a little TLC for the crooked pilot ladder )

Have a safe day.
Herman Broers

www.pilotladdersafety.com

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.

Author: Herman Broers Member

Unlimited License Maritime Pilot, Port of Rotterdam. Pilot ladder safety, active marine pilot - Loodswezen Rotterdam - Rijnmond

Maritime Pilot in port of Rotterdam, Author of www.pilotladdersafety.com

Visit member profile

What's your opinion on this?

Video Kittiwake Mersey Pilot

published on 22 December 2021

KITTIWAKE ( MMSI 232008570) is a Pilot and currently sailing under the flag of United Kingdom (UK) Here she is speeding down the River this morning.

Video Polaris Pilot Boat Antwerp Belgium

published on 15 March 2022

Vessel name: Polaris ; Year built: 2012 ; Flag: Netherlands ; Homeport: Rotterdam Length: 81.2m X 13.3m ; GRT: 2501 ; Callsign: PBZN ; MMSI:245142000 ; IMO: 9496915 Type: Special Vessel / Pilot Ship A "Pilot Ship / Pilot Vessel" is a "special type" of ship in which it accommodates a certain and limited Marine Pilots (Sea, River, Harbor Pilots), it also carries small boats/crafts that are used to tender services to and from the Pilot ship. In a Pilot Vessel, the Pilots can take their time...

Video Pilot Leaving Ship Vigo

published on 31 March 2023

Video Zig-Zag-Test-Manoeuvre for Yaw Stability, IMO Manoeuvring Standards and Crash Stop

published on 26 November 2021

Another valuable explanatory video by Knud Benedict:
Zig-Zag-Test-Manoeuvre for Yaw Stability, IMO Manoeuvring Standards and Crash Stop

Article MARS-Report: Paltry PPU position predictor

by The Nautical Insitute - published on 18 August 2023

To monitor the vessel’s progress, the pilot had set up his portable pilotage unit (PPU). He had connected the rate-of-turn generator to the vessel’s pilot plug and had set a variable range marker on the radar with a radius of 0.5 nm.

Article Briese research and Nautitec create a lifelike virtual simulation model of research vessel „Maria S. Merian”

published on 16 November 2021

Briese research are extending their cooperation with Nautitec for their research training projects. As from immediate effect, a model of the research vessel “Maria S. Merian” can be used for tailor made training at NAUTITEC´s Leer-based simulator facilities.

Article Rumos Práticos 62 by Praticagem do Brasil published in Portuguese and English

published on 4 November 2022

In the 62nd edition of Rumos Práticos the editors visited the Paranaguá and Antonina Pilotage Zone (Paraná-PR) to portray the challenges faced by the pilots in one of the largest port complexes in South America.

Article Study on European maritime pilots: Working unusual hours and its relationship to job satisfaction

published on 1 October 2025

This article was published some time ago but is still up to date: The study focuses on maritime pilotage in seven European countries and analyzes the level of job satisfaction and its predictors.

Article The fleet of the Azovo-Chernomorsky Basin Branch was replenished with the pilot boat Mechta

published on 1 November 2021

Azovo-Chernomorsky Basin Branch of FSUE "Rosmorport" purchased pilot boat Mechta.

The boat of 1459 project was made in 1985 at the Leningrad Shipyard "Pella" (Otradnoye, USSR).

Risk analysis of collision accidents during underway STS berthing maneuver through integrating fault tree analysis (FTA) into Bayesian network (BN)

Article Risk analysis of collision accidents during underway STS berthing maneuver through integrating fault tree analysis (FTA) into Bayesian network (BN)

by Capt. Mustafa Sökükcü and Cenk Sakar - published on 3 May 2023

This research paper could be useful tool for marine pilots as well during the risk analysis of STS manoeuvrings. In light of the findings of the research, STS manoeuvres may be effectively planned in order to improve overall safety and avoid the unexpected incidents. On the other hand, there is a dearth of literature on STS operation. As a result, this work has a significant input on the current literature.