Tag: ladders

IMPA, representing the international community of pilots, conducts an annual safety campaign with the objective of reporting pilots’ experiences of ladders and boarding equipment to the IMO and the wider shipping community. 2020’s campaign received 6,394 reports from pilots operating across the world. 

An AB onboard a product tanker suffered severe injuries after falling from a portable ladder, while conducting maintenance work on the launching system for the ship’s free-fall lifeboat and later tragically died from his injuries. The Britannia P&I Club described this case study as part of its BSafe campaign. 

In its latest Safety Flashes, IMCA examines two different cases of falls of crew members from step ladders which led to injuries. The two incidents highlight the need for proper risk assessments and routine inspections on ladders. 

RMI issued an investigation report on the fatal fall from height of a third engineer onboard the oil tanker Polar Cod while underway in May 2019. The investigation established that the low height of handrail, mixed with high ambient temperatures and psychological stresses of the crew member, probably contributed to this incident. 

The American P&I Club’s Loss Prevention published a video, in which Danielle Centeno - Vice President, Loss Prevention/Survey Compliance - discusses three keys to safe boarding.

According to the French Agency Premar Mediterranee, on Monday 13 April, a crewmember onboard the chemical tanker "Elandra Baltic" fell over the sea while working on the accommodation ladder. In fact, the 55-year old Latvian has fallen during the night, from at least 6 meters high.

Following the loss of a New York pilot on December 30, the American Pilots’ Association issued a notice to the marine community advising of the dangers of some accommodation ladder/ pilot ladder combination arrangements with integrated embarking platforms.

Following the death of a New York pilot back in December 2019, the American Pilots' Association on behalf of around 1.200 American ship pilots, recently conducted a letter to the US State Pilotage Authorities concerning pilots' safety.

The Seafarers International House announced that they are joining the Dangerous Ladders campaign, after the death of a veteran Sandy Hook ship pilot, who fell from an accommodation ladder. The Seafarers International House stated that it is taking part in the campaign to pressure the International Maritime Organization to solve the issue of dangerous ladders and build a safer environment for ship pilots.

Tokyo MoU issued a Safety Bulletin to inform of the potential risks of using improperly rigged pilot ladders. This comes in response to several reports from pilots and pilot associations indicating that vessels are improperly securing their pilot ladders to the ship.