Tag: IMPA

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.

International Maritime Pilots’ Association (IMPA) in collaboration with its partners, the Canadian National Centre of Expertise on Maritime Pilotage (NCEMP) and the Canadian Coast Guard is rigorously exploring remote pilotage to ground-truth its feasibility, readiness, and impacts on safe navigation practices and systems.

Matthew Williams, Secretary General of the International Maritime Pilots' Association (IMPA), offers insights into recent updates and regulatory changes related to maritime pilotage, emphasizing the need for proactive measures to mitigate risks.

The International Maritime Pilots’ Association (IMPA) is collaborating with the Canadian National Centre of Expertise on Maritime Pilotage (NCEMP) and the Canadian Coast Guard to assess the feasibility, readiness, and impact of remote pilotage.

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 the need to secure pilot ladders at intermediate length and conduct mandatory training, inspection and maintenance.

This year's IMPA Safety Campaign on pilot ladders highlights that still a lot of work is required as the requirements of SOLAS regulation V/23 (Pilot transfer arrangements), its associated IMO Assembly resolutions, and the ISO 799 series standards are considered as the minimum requirement and not an aspirational target, IMPA stressed.

Whenever a pilot or other person embarks or disembarks from a ship by ladder, they entrust their safety to the pilot transfer arrangements provided by the ship and the pilot boat crew. AMSA has noted with concern that since November 2017 several pilots’ lives have been placed at risk, in six separate incidents where man ropes have parted, or its securing point has failed.

SOLAS Chapter V, Regulation 23 sets out the principal requirements for the rigging of pilot ladders. These provisions are also set out in the IMO/IMPA Required Boarding Arrangements for Pilot poster, featured ICS/IMPA Shipping Industry Guidance on Pilot Transfer Arrangements.

According to the International Maritime Pilots Association (IMPA), the ship “Grand Radiant” suffered an incident where the accommodation ladder entire outboard side railing fell away due to a pin becoming loose. 

ICS along with the International Maritime Pilots’ Association (IMPA) published the guide "Shipping Industry Guidance on Pilot Transfer Arrangements", updating maritime pilot transfer safety procedures amid industry concerns about poorly rigged ladders causing severe injuries or fatalities.