Article

One small step… for maritime safety

published on 7 July 2022 - 86 -

Show comment section |

Text and picture by Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB)

The MAIB’s Annual Report published in June highlighted the issue of unsafe pilot ladders, a concern that has been regularly voiced by the industry. In 2021, the branch received almost 200 reports about substandard pilot ladders. Of those, 87% of the ladders were rigged incorrectly (top image) and the remainder were observed by the marine pilot as being materially defective (Figure 1). Fortunately, serious accidents have been rare, but the potential for injury and even loss of life clearly exists.

Read the whole article here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/one-small-step-for-maritime-safety

What's your opinion on this?

Article Jacobsen Pilot Service and Los Angeles Pilot Station publish notice to all ships

published on 15 August 2020

Jacobsen Pilot Service and Los Angeles Pilot Station published a notice to all ships to inspect pilot ladders before the pilot boards.

Reason is an incident happened at the port of long beach in July 2020. Pilot ladder rope broke while the pilot was on the ladder - luckily the pilot was able to hold on.

Article New Pilot Ladder Magnet Is Switchable

published on 29 June 2021

On the back of the long-standing success of the Yellow-Mag ll Pilot Ladder Magnet worldwide, Serpent & Dove—Applied Magnetics is introducing its patented Yellow-Mag lll Switchable Pilot Ladder Magnet.

Video Pilot Ladder Safety Webinar by The Nautical Institute

published on 12 May 2022

The Nautical Institute (NI) and the International Maritime Pilots’ Association (IMPA) have been concerned for many years at the needlessly high rate of Pilot Ladder casualties. The NI is continuously reminded of the problem from its Members and through its Mariners’ Alerting and Reporting Scheme (MARS). The issue features frequently in our publications, and we recently dedicated an edition of our award winning magazine The Navigator to the topic, emphasising the importance of good...

Video Le Havre Pilot from Helicopter

published on 30 December 2020

Video Miami pilot boat, Ships & Voyager video

published on 21 August 2025

Here’s a nice video of ‘Miami’ the Interceptor 48 pilot we built for the Biscayne Bay Pilots, Florida on sea trials, with Voyager helping out as the camera boat.

Video How Biggest Ship Crosses STRAIT OF GIBRALTAR in bad weather | Navigation Bridge Of Ship |

published on 13 August 2020

This video includes how we transit STRAIT OF GIBRALTAR on the biggest ship in the world (EMMA MAERSK)
I have included some bridge procedures we are required to carry out PRE-ARRIVAL and how MASTER-PILOT exchange is carried out .
For aspiring sailors , do watch the whole video as you will learn how life at sea works , the challenges we face and the pros and cons of merchant navy .
I conduct Q&A session on my Instagram account, so don't forget to follow me there too

Video Malta Maritime Pilots

published on 4 July 2019

Malta Maritime Pilots

Video Polaris - Pilot Boat

published on 14 October 2021

Vessel's details: IMO: 9496915 Name: POLARIS Vessel Type - Generic: Pilot Vessel Vessel Type - Detailed: Special Vessel Status: Active MMSI: 245142000 Call Sign: PBZN Flag: Netherlands [NL] Gross Tonnage: 2501 Summer DWT: 890 t Length Overall x Breadth Extreme: 81.2 x 13.3 m Year Built: 2012 Home Port: ROTTERDAM Geo location: 51.980840, 4.112364