Tuesday, October 1st is the start date of the latest International Maritime Pilot Association's annual Safety Campaign.

Previous campaigns by the association have consistently shown results of pilot ladder deficiencies around the 20% mark.

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.

Pilot transfer arrangement is a sensitive topic to be discussed among the pilot’s fraternity. Although ships are designed and operated with compliance to the SOLAS requirements in all respects including the pilot transfer arrangements, there has been numerous deficiencies observed related to pilot transfer arrangements. The small deficiencies from the part of ships cause life threatening accidents for pilots and sometimes to the ship staff themselves. There are many instances of defective ladder and complacency in proper rigging of ladders has been reported almost every day in different parts of the world. Many pilots lost their life, severely injured for life and face many minor to major accidents. The latest incident being the Capt. Timothy Murray of Sandy hooks Pilot.

As we all know there is a new regulation established since July 2012, this new regulation refers to pilot transfer arrangements. There are other yearly safety campaigns such as IMPA that include SOLAS V.23 and IMO Resolution A 1045 and Resolution A.1108(29). Unfortunately, in this annual overview there were some accidents reported that could have been avoided.

PILOTTENDER GRODEN (MMSI: 211545300). Build by Abeking & Rasmussen, Germany

Unless you were paying attention on your last cruise, you might have missed the pilot boat bringing the pilot out to your cruise ship. Here's the story in 4K. Hey, be sure to subscribe too! Copyright © 2022 Richard L. Sites. All rights reserved. Any unauthorized reuse, copying, duplication, reproduction, or redistribution in part or in whole without written permission is strictly prohibited. To use this video for broadcast or in a commercial player contact me directly. Find me on:...

Reminder: Sjöfartsverket is proud to announce the launch of the first FASTWATER demonstrator: The pilot boat.
They would like to celebrate this important milestone with you and invite you to our online pilot boat launch event on December 14th, 2021 from 10.00 - 12.00.