200321 Three Pilot Ladder Incidents

3 Pilot Ladder Incidents
Report No. 200321

Within the last few months three incidents have occurred when landing Pilots from outward bound vessels (up to 100m length) in light condition. The vessels were all crewed by Russians or other personnel from the former Soviet Union.

The first incident involved the crew securing the ladder by means of the rope tails to the deck fittings, the Pilot exiting via a removed section of railing. When about half way down, one of the tails became loose and started to break free causing the ladder to be suspended by only one line. The Pilot managed to descend the remaining two metres "Tarzan" style to the boat deck. The second incident was of a similar occurrence.

The third mishap happened when the rope tails were secured to the top rail of the ship's outboard safety railings. With the Pilot nearing the bottom of the ladder, the pilot boat, rising and falling about one metre, touched the bottom spreader which pulled the ladder. The rail gave way at, what was later discovered to be a "shipboard" repair weld, causing the ladder and the Pilot to fall. Fortunately the Pilot was not injured. It makes one wonder if a similar incident had happened previously.

Having been a Pilot for many years I have never, in the past, felt the need to check on the seamanship of ship's crews. However, my colleagues and I have found on a number of occasions that the knots used for securing the pilot ladder are of an unknown type and certainly not designed for taking the weight of the Pilot or are not correctly tied. I suggest that Pilots who board or land from these types of vessels make it a habit to cast a glance at the knot that may mean a serious injury or death for them if it fails.

Another warning comes from the Australian MSA

AMSA Marine Notice 26/2002 concerns Pilot Ladder Safety

"The attention of Shipowners, Operators, Masters and Pilots is drawn to the provisions of Marine Orders Part 21 and SOLAS Chapter V/17 relating to pilot transfer arrangements. Two serious instances involving pilot ladders have been reported to AMSA. In one instance, a tripping line became entangled with the launch as the pilot was boarding and a serious incident was only averted by swift action of the launch crew. The use of tripping lines is generally considered an unsafe practices and is strongly discouraged when rigging pilot ladders. In the other case, a pilot was lucky not to fall when a section of the ladder parted as he attempted to board a large bulk carrier.