The latest IMPA Safety Campaign on pilot ladders raises awareness of the need for pilot transfer arrangements to be procured, inspected, maintained and rigged in compliance with SOLAS regulation V/23, taking complete account of the ISO 799 standards. IMPA highlights that Pilot ladders remain the leading source of non-compliant observations.
The results of the 2024 IMPA Safety Campaign show that there’s no significant change to historic non-compliance trends. The campaign took place from 1 to 15 October. In 2024, the survey was supported for the first time by a native application, which is anticipated to help more maritime pilots actively participate in the future.
Key findings of the 2024 IMPA Safety Campaign:
- Non-compliance rate: 13%
- Number of reports: 4052
- Number of pilots participating >500
- Highest rates of non-compliance found in Europe (19%) and Australasia (23%)
- No significant change to historic non-compliance trends
- Pilot ladders remain the leading source of non-compliant observations
- 9% of non-compliant pilot ladders were not secured to a strongpoint
- Retrieval line rigging and pilot ladder serviceability remain weaknesses
In an exclusive interview for SAFETY4SEA, Matthew Williams, Secretary General of the International Maritime Pilots’ Association, IMPA, stated that the data trend from 2018 to 2023, has shown that non-compliance rates are persistent and stubbornly high. In 2023 average non-compliance rate peaked at 16% .The main driver of this non-compliance rate is problems with pilot ladders, which account for around 50% of non-compliant observations each year.
IMPA Beliefs
- The public interest is best served by a fully regulated and cohesive pilotage service free of commercial pressure.
- There is no substitute for the presence of a qualified pilot on the bridge.
- IMO is the prime authority in matters concerning safety of international shipping.
- All states should adopt a responsible approach based on proven safety strategies in establishing their own regulations, standards, and procedures with respect to pilotage.
- IMPA represents the international community of pilots. We use the resources of our membership to promote effective safety outcomes in pilotage as an essential public service.
- Existing and emerging information technologies are capable of enhancing on-board decision-making by the maritime pilot.
