AMSA highlights the obligation of shipowners, operators, masters and crew to ensure safe arrangements are in place when embarking or disembarking a vessel using a pilot ladder.
According to AMSA, transfers using pilot ladders are high risk activities. Fatalities have taken place when crew have fallen to their deaths while climbing up or down pilot ladders.
In August 2021, AMSA received notification of the death of a crewmember who fell into the water while climbing down the pilot ladder of a bulk carrier to board a crew transfer boat. That same day, the crewmember had signed off the vessel to go home.
Managing risks
Embarking and disembarking a vessel using a pilot ladder is a high-risk activity. Failing to provide safe access can be fatal.
For this reason, a risk assessment for safe transfer of people by pilot ladder, or other means, should be part of the vessel’s safety management system.
Pilot ladders and associated equipment must also comply with international standards (SOLAS V/23), be certified and properly maintained.
More specifically, when considering the risk of use of a pilot ladder for transfer, as a minimum, attention should be given to:
- The experience and capability of people using the pilot ladder.
- The physical demands of using a pilot ladder.
- Sea state and weather conditions.
- The ability of a launch or other vessel to act as a platform to safely transfer people to or from a pilot ladder.
- Measures to prevent falls.
- Emergency response if a person using the pilot ladder falls.
- Use of other means of transfer which present a lower risk in the circumstances, such as a helicopter.
