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.

Video MAERSK: "We have made boarding safer for pilots on more than 100 ships"

published on 8 September 2022

Official Video by MAERSK:" In the past two years we have made boarding safer for maritime pilots on more than 100 ships."

Video Taking the last Pilot off before heading home

published on 5 May 2023

After a six day hitch, we work our last ship before heading home https://instagram.com/sea_weathered?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Article PTR Holland Group Joins RightShip’s Zero Harm Innovation Partners Program

published on 19 August 2025

PTR Holland Group partners with RightShip to elevate pilot transfer safety through the Zero Harm Innovation Partners Program.

Video Pilot Boarding Bulk Carrier SAMMY in Saudi Arabia.

published on 5 July 2021

This video was kindly provided by a friend of Pilot Captain Haitham Alzahrani, Saudi Arabia. Pilot Ladder Check: non-compliant, no retrieval line Editor's note: A backpack on the back in combination with a lifejacket is usually not a good idea. There are only a few lifejackets that unfold in the water without any problems even with a backpack! More Information: SAMMY (IMO: 9582491) is a Bulk Carrier that was built in 2012 (9 years ago) and is sailing under the flag of Panama. It’s carrying...

Video Humber Pilotage Area - Pilot Disembarkation

published on 13 January 2022

Humber Pilotage Area - Pilot Disembarkation
#shorts #short #shortsvideo #shortvideo #seafarer #seaman #ship #vessel #hull #humberriver #uk #unitedkingdom

Video Maritime Training: Pilot Ladders: Safe Rigging Procedures

published on 25 February 2020

Pilot transfer operations always involve risk, even when conditions are favorable. Learn the essential safety procedures involved in this operation.
Visit https://www.maritimetraining.com/Course/Pilot-Ladders-Safe-Rigging-Procedures to purchase the full-length version.

Article Maritime Pilots in the New York area use Pilot-Guard

by Pilot-Guard International Network for Pilot Safety - published on 11 April 2024

Pilot-Guard is a global pilot safety network that enables the real-time exchange of safety-related information between organisations around the globe on non-compliant pilot transfer arrangements (nc-pta) of vessels.