The pilot ladder shouldn’t be a killing ladder!

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.

During the transit time on the pilot launch between the shore and the vessel, marine pilots will spend at least a portion of that time carrying out (either consciously or subconsciously) a risk assessment of the forthcoming operation.

Over the past few years a number of pilot transfer accidents have occurred resulting from total failure of the side ropes, one school of thought is that the methods of securing a pilot ladder is a factor in such occurrences.

Briggs Marine invited High Impact Media (https://media.hi-impact.co.uk/) to spend a few hours on one of our Pilot Launch Vessels to help us demonstrate the day to day efforts of our crew in Liverpool.

Here is the latest version of the professional handbuch of "pilot Ladder Safety" for the rigging and the use of pilot ladders by Herman Broers from July 2021.

Beloodsingen Met Swath "Cetus" en aan boord Pilot Station Vessel "Pollux" @ Steenbank Pilot-station @ Schouwenbank.

As an island nation, over 98% of Australia’s trade moves through ports. At the heart of the trade supply chain are the North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation (NQBP) marine pilots. These highly skilled maritime professionals make sure the vessels carrying goods through our ports travel safely and efficiently. Take a look at a day in the life of an NQBP marine pilot at one of Queensland’s multi-commodity ports, the Port of Mackay. Read more https://nqbp.com.au/about-us/news/articles/a-day-in-...

by The Panama Canal

Pilotboat Galveston boarding Unit #6 inbound to Texas City. Seas got a little spicy today. 🌊🌊
#galtexpilots #gladdinghearn #pilotboatgalveston #goprohero11 #rammounts #galvestonpilots #ship #legend #crowley #ATBLEGEND #TUGANDBARGE

Captain David Gelinas will discuss the history of the Pen Bay Pilots and how the Maine's State Pilotage System is practiced on Penobscot Bay. He will also share stories about Captain Bill Abbott who mentored him when he became a pilot.