Opinion

New guidance for PBAs with trapdoors. Released 4.11.2020 by NZMPA

by New Zealand Maritime Pilot's Association - published on 6 November 2020 - 492 -

Show comment section |

Rigging Of Combination Boarding Arrangements With Trapdoors

"A guide for Pilot boarding operations in New Zealand when using combination Arrangements with trapdoor."

by The New Zealand Maritime Pilot’s Association - NZMPA
Publication PBA-1, 1st Edition November 2020

Steve Banks, President of NZMPA on social media:
"New guidance for PBAs with trapdoors. Released 4.11.2020 at NZMPA Conference in Dunedin, NZ. Distinct difference to suggestions in many other countries, is that we challenge operators who have the ladder suspended from the accommodation ladder (gangway) and not secured to the ship. SOLAS states that pilot ladder shall be secured to the ship, and securing strongpoints, shackles and ropes shall be as strong as the sideropes."

Download: Rigging Of Combination Boarding Arrangements With Trapdoors (PDF)

New Zealand Maritime Pilot's Association

Editor's note:
Opinion pieces reflect the personal opinion of individual authors. They do not allow any conclusions to be drawn about a prevailing opinion in the respective editorial department. Opinion pieces might be deliberately formulated in a pronounced or even explicit tone and may contain biased arguments. They might be intended to polarise and stimulate discussion. In this, they deliberately differ from the factual articles you typically find on this platform, written to present facts and opinions in as balanced a manner as possible.

What's your opinion on this?

Article Pilots Corner – A perspective from New Zealand

by Chirp Maritime - published on 25 August 2020

The next step for NZMPA is to issue a set of regulator-endorsed guidance notes. The first version will focus on accommodation ladders used in conjunction with pilot ladders.

Article ABP Southampton puts pressure on non-compliant 'trap door' Arrangements

by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 22 April 2020

ABP Southampton: NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that some ships have a pilot transfer arrangement consisting of an accommodation ladder / pilot ladder combination with a trapdoor that does not meet IMO standards in effect since at least 2012.

Article Sandy Hook Pilot Timothy M. Murray lost his life while boarding a ship (08/05/2020)

by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 6 August 2020

On August 5, 2020 at approximately 10:30 pm, Sandy Hook Pilot Captain Timothy M. Murray was involved in an incident while boarding a tanker vessel inbound to the Port of New York & New Jersey. He sustained injuries after falling from a pilot ladder and was evacuated to a local hospital where his injuries proved to be fatal.

Article Bahamas imposes compulsory maritime pilot rule for all vessels

published on 30 September 2025

The Bahamas has imposed a compulsory maritime pilot rule for all vessels, including cruise ships, at its ports since September 2025.

Video HMM - Maiden voyage of HMM Algeciras #7-Rotterdam-arrival

published on 23 June 2020

The maiden voyage of HMM Algeciras #7-Rotterdam-arrival: “Steady as she goes” As Rotterdam tugboats skillfully maneuver mega vessel 'HMM Algeciras' safely towards the RWG Terminal mooring – welcoming the 1st of 12 Megamax-24 class HMM vessels to the Netherlands!

Article Flinders Ports tightens rules regarding pilot ladders from 01.01.2022

published on 27 November 2021

Due to many incidents involving pilot ladders and man ropes in South Australian ports, and in effort to improve pilot safety, from 1 January 2022 Flinders Ports will require visiting vessels and their Masters to take additional precautions

Article Helmsman and pilots were operating with different goals

published on 22 April 2025

An ATSB interim report outlines the sequence of events leading to the collision between the container vessel Maersk Shekou and the berthed tall ship STS Leeuwin II in Fremantle on 30 August 2024.

Video Pilotage in Kenya: a really dangerous job

published on 8 March 2021

This video shows the reality of pilots in Kenya.

Video TRENZ PPU SIRIUS - New Generation Portable Pilot Unit

published on 18 February 2025

TRENZ proudly present you the next generation portable pilot unit. "SIRIUS" has been redesigned to allow more functionality and precision now and new features in the future. www.trenz-ppu.com SIRIUS Features: High-precision Rate of Turn (ROT) achieved through dual gyroscope and accelerometer integration, utilizing the TRENZ Sensor Fusion algorithm Standard-precision GNSS receiver supporting four concurrent constellations (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou) and augmentation via SBAS Advanced AIS/...