Non Compliant Pilot Boarding Arrangements
The United Kingdom Maritime Pilots Association have recently highlighted the bad practice of securing pilot ladders by means of devices such as deck tongues or hooks.
This recent bulletin advises such, or similar, arrangements are non compliant with SOLAS Chapter V Regulation 23 and suggests pilots should report these arrangements to the MCA via the appropriate route.
Members should be aware that vessels which have been reported by a pilot or port authority can expect to be targeted for a Port State Control Inspection.
Further advice on the safe rigging of pilot boarding arrangements may be found in North’s recent Hotspots on Pilot ladders and the Shipping Industry Guidance on Pilot Transfer Arrangements published by the International Maritime Pilots Association in collaboration with the International Chamber of Shipping.