Tag: ladders

For a Marine Pilot, embarking and disembarking a ship is a challenging task. Pilot ladders is a simple and inexpensive way to embark and disembark a vessel at sea; however, many pilots are still being injured whilst embarking ships. Safe pilot transfers are the result of cooperation between vessel management and the pilot.

While recovering the starboard accommodation ladder onboard a Hong Kong-flagged general cargo ship, a deck officer fell overboard from the last few steps of the ladder and was later found dead. Hong Kong MARDEP shared lessons learned from the incident.

Following a number of crew injury claims, Steamship Mutual P&I Club released a Risk Alert focusing on the use of portable ladders.

While the Bosun and an AB were recovering the accommodation ladder on a bulk carrier, heavy weather caused the AB to fall overboard from the lower platform of the ladder. The Hong Kong MARDEP shared lessons learned from the incident. 

The US Coast Guard shared equipment manufacturers' guidance to seek approval of pilot ladders and embarkation ladders that meet ISO 799-1:2019 or ISO 5489:2008, respectively, as well as current guidance on embarking and disembarking of pilots.

A tragic incident occurred early in the morning of 4th May in Algeciras waters, Spain, during crew change operation.

RMI issued an investigation report on the fatal fall of a seafarer from a portable ladder onboard the bulk carrier Sfera, while underway in the Philippine Sea, in June 2020. The investigation highlighted non-compliance with SMS procedures with respect to safe use of portable ladders and use of PPE.

In line with growing concern by local pilot associations on unsafe boarding arrangements, the Belgium pilot association issued a notice to incoming vessels to remind them to follow the requirements regarding pilot transfer arrangements.

Following the latest version of Swedish Club's casebook, it is described a case where a crewmember lost his life while climbing a ladder.

Transport Malta MSIU issued an investigation report on a fatal man overboard incident, involving a crew member while rigging a combination pilot ladder onoard the bulk carrier Navios Amitie, in February 2020. At the time of the accident, the crew member was not wearing a safety harness. It is very likely that he drowned because he had no lifejacket on.