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.

A collection of action from the St Johns Bar Pilot Association In the early 1800′s as the commercial ports along the St Johns River began to develop, a select group of brave and skilled seafarers would row to sea to meet arriving cargo sailing ships. These daring individuals would use their extensive local knowledge to safely guide the sailing ships across the treacherous sand bars that guarded the river entrance. This was the origin of the St. Johns Bar Pilots. Initially it was a bit of a...

Pilots boarding the M/V Hodaka Galaxy with the San Francisco Bar Pilots.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maritime_pilot

Vishva Preeti

Do you ever leave the harbour to get on a vessel you will guide along without a ritual? Whatever we trust in, whatever the rituals or traditions you Marine Pilots have - when you board your pilot boats, climb the ladders, get the vessels through the harbour - keep them and cherish them, they are good and they are important.

#PilotVessel "CARRASCO II" #PuertoDelBuceo #PuertitoDelBuceo #buceo #montevideo #uruguay #RioDeLaPlata #Pilots #RioDeLaPlataPilots #pilotonboard #prácticos #PrácticosArgentinos / 09.02.2026 - 10:54 LT.- This video was filmed on board the #PilotVessel "SEA PILOT", at the #PuertoDelBuceo #DelBuceoHarbour #Uruguay and shows the moments when the #PilotBoat "CARRASCO II" arrived at the same harbour, comming from the #BoardingStation​ #JP​ #Recalada​ #RioDeLaPlata​. Special appreciation to the...