Article

#DangerousLadders on Facebook


by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 10 September 2019 441 -

About this group

This group is to help spread the campaign to improve the safety of pilot ladders and pilot transfer arrangements.

Every survey says approx. 20% of arrangements are non-compliant. If they're non-compliant, they're not safe so they shouldn't be used!

Let's reduce the 20% by engagement, education and enforcement.
What's your opinion on this?
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Article Combinations Ladders: "1,000 combinations around" (by Arie Palmers)

by Arie Palmers, Netherlands - published on 13 July 2020

Before you, you see my third article on pilot boarding arrangements. After my two previous articles
(‘1000 ways to secure a pilot ladder’ and ‘1000 ladders around’, I have received a lot of feedback and
also questions to get deeper into the matter of combinations and embarkation platforms.

2

Article Jacobsen Pilot Service and Los Angeles Pilot Station publish notice to all ships

published on 15 August 2020

Jacobsen Pilot Service and Los Angeles Pilot Station published a notice to all ships to inspect pilot ladders before the pilot boards.

Reason is an incident happened at the port of long beach in July 2020. Pilot ladder rope broke while the pilot was on the ladder - luckily the pilot was able to hold on.

1

Article Origins of the IMPA pilot mark

by Kevin Vallance deep sea pilot and author - published on 24 October 2019

There are many things in both our everyday and professional lives which we take for granted and never question the origins of, an example of this might be the IMPA recommended ‘pilot mark or pilot line’, which is sometimes seen on the side of vessels indicating where a vessels freeboard exceeds 9 metres.

4

Video Submarine pilot boarding

published on 6 July 2019

Pilot boarding submarine HNLMS Bruinvis at North East Spit pilot station.
Pilot Captain Chris Renault.

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Opinion Suggestions to improve Pilot Ladder Safety

by Nasir Khan - published on 28 June 2021

Ideas from Nasir Khan, Port Pilot: "I would like to suggest that we try an experiment and make some modifications that will result in a better grip on the handrails of the ship's ladder and on the pilot ladder steps. Let's talk about it!"

2

Video Various Marine Pilots Northeastern Caribbean

published on 29 January 2026

*Testing out a new camcorder. A Canon Vixia HFG70. Picture is fantastic. Shot in 1920x1080p at 60FPS. However, the external (add-on) microphone is terrible. Going to replace it with a much better one.*
Marine pilots boarding the ms Eurodam in three locations. Nassau, Bahamas. Amber Cover, Dominican Republic. Half Moon Cay, Bahamas. Did you know that Grand Turk does not have a pilot? I did not know that. Enjoy.
Yes I know I made the "Bahamas" possessive. It's a mistake.

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Article Best practice on rigging pilot ladders (UK MAIB)

published on 7 July 2022

On the occasion of the Maritime Safety Week (July 4-10), UK MAIB’s inspector Bill Evans refers to the issue of unsafe pilot ladders, a concern that has been regularly voiced by the industry.

2

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...

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Video "Providence" South Wales Pilot Boat

published on 25 August 2020

This video is about the people who work for South East Wales Pilotage, the Pilots and Cutter crew

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Article Deckhand injured after falling on pilot boat (New Zealand)

published on 20 January 2022

A Port Otago deckhand was seriously injured in a workplace fall yesterday afternoon.

Port Otago chief executive Kevin Winders said the deckhand on a pilot boat was preparing a ladder to allow a maritime pilot to climb aboard an oil tanker.

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