Opinion

Suggestions to improve Pilot Ladder Safety


by Nasir Khan - published on 28 June 2021 424 -

Can we make these Experiments?

Modifications: Ships Ladder Handrails & Width of the Pilot Ladder steps
Article and photos by Nasir Khan, Harbour Pilot, Pakistani

Also watch the video for the article at the end of the post!

I analyzes the subject of fallen Pilots are two main Reasons:

Pilots hands are lose their grip at ships handrail

At transfer point mostly pilots loose their grip on Ships Ladder handrails, specially at ships combination ladder extensions.
I suggesting if we rotate small size, approx 4mm diameter rope around the handrails.
I ensure that such a griping Ladder Extension handrails for Safety & Fall protection of Pilots.
I ensure that such a griping Ladder Extension handrails for Safety & Fall protection of Pilots.
I ensure that such a griping Ladder Extension handrails for Safety & Fall protection of Pilots.
I ensure that such a griping Ladder Extension handrails for Safety & Fall protection of Pilots.

Pilots feet are slip from ladder steps

I Mainly observed that the Pilot feet mostly unbalanced & slip from the Ladder steps, due to the width of the steps 115mm , where the Pilot feet are 50% rested at steps, that’s a reason the pilot body couldn’t safely balance and the risk of the slipping and falling escalate.
What I suggest that if we make an experiment, the width of ladder steps to be increase to make it double of 115mm. If we convert it will be 230mm steps width will be considered. It could be more safer while climbing up or down the Pilot feet will be fully & exactly placed on ladder steps . Wide steps for safe and comfortable boarding. I think it will minimize the risk of Pilots falling or occur incident.
Please leave your comments here on Marine-Pilots.com below the article!
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.

Join the conversation...

Login or register to write comments and join the discussion!
President Gajanan Karanjikar India
on 1 July 2021, 01:39 UTC

yes these pipes are MS schedule and are in standard (diameter) sizes, anything more than 50 mm could be big for a grip of a palm. Plus wrong rope could absorb oil and be more slippery. Certainly PP ropes wrppings are not advisable at all.
0

Nasir Khan Saudi Arabia
on 29 June 2021, 08:41 UTC

Dear sir Capt. Gajanan.k , sir the standard size of handrails with rotated rope , so may its reduce the size of handrails 4 mm and apply the same size of rope to rotate on and maintain the standard size of handrails with rotated rope. I hope its will work. Thanks sir for your involvement .
1

President Gajanan Karanjikar India
on 29 June 2021, 07:29 UTC

we need to see the final diameter after wrapping. it should not be more than 50 mm as not all hands can have better grip for bigger diameters.
2

Nasir Khan Saudi Arabia
on 28 June 2021, 16:06 UTC

I grateful to Marine- Pilots.com specially ( Mr. Frank Diegel ) being supportive . KHAN
1

Read more...

Video Kittiwake Mersey Pilot

published on 22 December 2021

KITTIWAKE ( MMSI 232008570) is a Pilot and currently sailing under the flag of United Kingdom (UK) Here she is speeding down the River this morning.

0

Video Polaris Pilot Boat Antwerp Belgium

published on 15 March 2022

Vessel name: Polaris ; Year built: 2012 ; Flag: Netherlands ; Homeport: Rotterdam Length: 81.2m X 13.3m ; GRT: 2501 ; Callsign: PBZN ; MMSI:245142000 ; IMO: 9496915 Type: Special Vessel / Pilot Ship A "Pilot Ship / Pilot Vessel" is a "special type" of ship in which it accommodates a certain and limited Marine Pilots (Sea, River, Harbor Pilots), it also carries small boats/crafts that are used to tender services to and from the Pilot ship. In a Pilot Vessel, the Pilots can take their time...

1

Video Pilot Leaving Ship Vigo

published on 31 March 2023

0

Video Dangerous disembarking. Very unprofessional actions.

published on 28 July 2021

These are images that no one wants to see. How can people take such a risk and behave so unprofessionally? Purely a matter of luck whether you come home again in the evening!

0

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.

3

Article #DangerousLadders on Facebook

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

A valuable campaign managed by Chris Young, Kevin Vallance and others, which we found on Facebook .

1

Video Sea Pilot Transfer by Northern Helicopter (Germany)

published on 8 May 2025

This video from Northern Helicopter impressively shows how teamwork works in the maritime world. At TRENZ, we’re especially proud when two of our customers are in action together.

1

Video Pilot Embarkation - Gangway Access - Unsafe Practice at Sea CHIRP Maritime Safety

published on 4 July 2019

The hazards of Pilot boarding
Throughout 2016, the International Maritime Pilots’ Association (IMPA) held a safety campaign focused upon the standard of pilot ladders and associated equipment. CHIRP supported this campaign and received many reports on the subject.
This first report describes issues concerning pilot access near
the non-parallel ends of a ship, and use of a retractable platform.

0

Article Sanmar Shipyards completes record number of vessels in a month

published on 1 March 2022

Sanmar Shipyards is celebrating completing a record number of vessels within one calendar month, with six tugs and two pilot boats gaining their class certificates during January 2022.

0

Video Time-lapse maneuvering in Turkey

published on 24 November 2022

@Captain Ertan Ozgur, Senior Maritime Pilot

0