Article

MAERSK takes action against non-compliant trapdoor arrangements


by Frank Diegel - published on 3 March 2021 1152 -

Screenshot from MAERSK "Safety Alert 01/2021"

Good news for pilot safety: As one of the leading shipping companies, MAERSK is now targeting the notorious "trapdoor arrangements". A corresponding notification to all the company's ships concerned was made public in the last few days.

Maersk has sent their "Safety Alert 01/2021" to all their vessels and charters concerning embarkation platforms (‘trapdoors’).

Among other things, it states: "Recently, pilots have refused to board our own and time-chartered vessels due to unsafe rigging of the Combination Ladder - Trapdoor arrangements.
The vessels have to delay significant or omitted ports until onboard arrangements meet current IMO requirements."

"Today, more than 45 noncompliance pilot transfer arrangements are in progress of modification into the Maersk network."


MAERSK writes: "All vessels with a trapdoor arrangement are urged requested to revert with arrangement status. Vessels with noncompliance arrangements to come forward also with their Sort and long-term actions in order to bring their arrangements into compliance with the current IMO standards."

In recent months, there have been several boarding accidents, including fatal ones, in which non-complaint "trapdoors" have repeatedly played a role. For example, the death of the Sandy Hook pilot Capt. Dennis Sherwood in December 2019.
The international pilot community has recently repeatedly pointed out the dangers of non-compliant ladders, especially the so-called "trapdoors". Due to public pressure from pilots, organisations, media and groups such as the very competent #dangerousladders group on Facebook, there is now a rethinking of the trapdoor arrangements by shipping companies.
Klick on image to download PDF
Klick on image to download PDF
Klick on image to download PDF
Klick on image to download PDF
Maritime software and hardware development, digitalisation
What's your opinion on this?
Login or register to write comments and join the discussion!
Read more...

Video My First MEGA SHIP Voyage - Didn't See This Coming!

published on 19 August 2025

It’s my first voyage taking over solo watch as a navigating officer – from bridge commands to monitoring traffic and weather, every second counts. Once we arrive in Ningbo, it’s straight into cargo operations, intense mooring work, and pilotage.

0

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.

1

Video How SHIP Navigate Through Ice (Part-2, Conversation With Pilot & Captain)

published on 29 May 2021

This is part -2 (CONVERSATION WITH PILOT AND CAPTAIN) In person Appearing - Captain Thomas Madsen Harbour Pilot, ST. Petersburg Company Credit - WWW.Maersk.com Location - Saint Petersburg, Russia Vessel - Venta Maersk Calender - (JANUARY - APRI), 2021 Music credit - Stock Music Filmora All video was shot on GoPro Hero 9 Edited through Adobe Light Room & Wondershare Filmora If you have not seen the 1st part find the link below How SHIP Navigate Through Ice (Part-1,...

1

Video HMM - Maiden voyage of HMM Algeciras #10-Hamburg

published on 18 July 2020

#MaidenVoyage #HMMalgeciras
The maiden voyage of HMM Algeciras #10-Hamburg: Look at the sunrise in Hamburg, Germany. The city awakes, but the port never sleeps. The HMM Algeciras, the first largest containership in the world, bids farewell to Hamburg.

0

Article Eemslift Hendrika is secured – will be towed to safe harbour

published on 8 April 2021

The Norwegian Coastal Administration mobilized according to their contingency plan against acute pollution, salvage crews managed to get on board the drifting vessel Eemslift Hendrika and managed to connect it to the two tugboats, and the vessel is now being towed to harbour in Ålesund.

0

Article Ever Given: Egypt claims 900 million dollars in damages

published on 15 April 2021

For days, the container freighter "Ever Given" had blocked the Suez Canal. Now Egypt and the shipping company are apparently arguing about compensation. For safety's sake, the canal authorities had the ship chained up.

1

Article Suez Canal chief hints ‘mistake’ by captain could be linked to Ever Given incident

published on 14 April 2021

The chairman of the Suez Canal Authority has suggested a possible mistake by the captain of the Ever Given could have led to the grounding of the giant container ship in the waterway last month.

1

Article IMO opens discussion on SOLAS Convention to amend pilot boarding arrangements

published on 28 November 2022

According to information from Simon Pelletier, President of IMPA, it was resolved at the IMO Maritime Safety Committee 106 on 08.11.2022 to open up the SOLAS Convention for amendment in respect of pilot boarding arrangements.

0

Video Associated Branch Pilots

published on 17 December 2020

For nearly 150 years, the Bar Pilots have protected our environment by safely guiding ocean-going vessels through our waterways.

0

Article Lessons learned: Failure of outboard side combination railing

published on 17 February 2022

According to the International Maritime Pilots Association (IMPA), the ship “Grand Radiant” suffered an incident where the accommodation ladder entire outboard side railing fell away due to a pin becoming loose.

0