Preparing a Pilot Ladder by vessels crew

Most pilot embarkations and disembarkations around the world, are still carried out using a traditional pilot ladder, consisting of wooden steps supported and secured by side ropes.

Tuesday, October 1st is the start date of the latest International Maritime Pilot Association's annual Safety Campaign.

Previous campaigns by the association have consistently shown results of pilot ladder deficiencies around the 20% mark.

There are many things in both our everyday and professional lives which we take for granted and never question the origins of, an example of this might be the IMPA recommended ‘pilot mark or pilot line’, which is sometimes seen on the side of vessels indicating where a vessels freeboard exceeds 9 metres.

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)?

Join me for an action-packed day aboard the pilot boat on the River Tyne! From sunrise to sunset, we guide massive ships safely into port, working right in the heart of the action. Get up close as we put pilots on board, ride the waves, and experience the beauty of the Tyne like never before. Whether you're a maritime enthusiast or just love seeing life at sea, this behind-the-scenes look at the pilot boat crew is not to be missed!
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Receiving Harbour Pilot before going alongside- Fujairah UAE

Pilot boat with over 2000 engine hours of operation in tough operating conditions.
OXE Marine brings its high-performance, fuel-efficient diesel outboards to Indonesia, offering a sustainable and reliable solution for commercial marine operations.

Like many seafarers I have long been a keen follower of The Nautical Institute’s MARS programme, and along with many other members I listened to the recent webinar on that topic. One theme which was repeated more than once was that it is better to learn from someone else’s misfortune rather than have it happen to you. Having personally been involved in two near misses resulting from unsafe pilot transfer arrangements in a relatively short space of time, I asked how experiences and knowledge specifically about pilot ladder safety could best be promulgated to avoid repeating common accidents or near misses.