Article

Update: Fatal Pilot Ladder Accident in Turkey on 18th July


published on 22 July 2022 1886 -

Picture courtesy www.Fleetmon.com

Boarding Accident Claims Marine Pilot's Life off Yalova, Turkey.
Maritime-Executive.com as well as Seanews.com.tr report unanimously on the death of a Turkish pilot on 18th July:


Pilot Captain Cafer Kıribrahim (64) fell into the sea while boarding a tanker ship off the coast of Çiftlikköy in Yalova. Kiribrahim passed away in the hospital he was taken to.

The incident occurred at around 13.00 at Çiftlikköy anchorage area.
Cafer Kıribrahim
Cafer Kıribrahim
Cafer Kıribrahim
Cafer Kıribrahim
Update 22th July:
Originally, many media reported a heart attack as the cause of the accident.
However, close colleagues strongly doubt this information about a heart attack as the cause of death. The body was subjected to a post-mortem examination by officials on the night of death.

The results of the examination will be presented to the court about 3 months later as a routine procedure.

We will further inform about what the investigations will reveal about the cause of the accident.


Cafer Kıribrahim, the pilot of the boat named 'Yalova Pilot 2', which docked with the tanker ship named 'ALHENA' at the anchorage area, fell into the sea from the third step of the cross while getting on board. The first response to Kıribrahim, who was pulled out of the water by the maritime police who reached the scene as a result of a report made to the Provincial Security Directorate Sea Port Branch Directorate, was made on the rescue boat. Kıribrahim, who was handed over to the medical teams waiting on the shore by the maritime police, died at the Yalova State Hospital, where he was taken to, despite all efforts of the doctors.

At about 1300 hours Monday, pilot Cafer Kiribrahim was out at the Ciftlikkoy anchorage area off Yalova in order to rendezvous with the tanker Alhena. His pilot boat came alongside the tanker and he transferred over to the pilot ladder. However, after reaching the ladder he fell into the water, according to local media.

Alhena is a 2012-built product tanker (182m) flagged in the Bahamas. A port state control inspection at Rotterdam in June 2022 found issues with her pilot ladder arrangements, according to her Equasis record (though the PSC inspection's finding may not have had a causal relationship with the accident).

The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
What's your opinion on this?
Login or register to write comments and join the discussion!
Read more...

Article Tanker and general cargo ship collided in Kiel Canal on July 27

published on 28 July 2021

Tanker went out of control after engine failure and collided with general cargo ship in Kiel Canal near Kiel locks, at around 0120 LT Jul 27.

1

Opinion A year ago, pilot Capt. Dennis Sherwood died in the line of duty

by Frank Diegel - published on 30 December 2020

It has been exactly one year ago that a pilot from Sandy Hook (New York), Dennis Sherwood, died in the line of duty while attempting to board the container vessel Maersk Kensington.
What has happened since then? Has safety been improved for the pilots?

1

Article NTSB Investigation: Towing vessel pilot never reported hitting bridge in Louisiana

published on 13 March 2023

The NTSB determined that the probable cause of the contact of the Miss Mollye D tow with the Route 182 bridge was a loss of control of the tow by the pilot at the helm of the towing vessel, likely due to impairment by factors such as fatigue or drug use.

0

Video CMA CGM MISSOURI 300m Container Ship grounded in Suez Canal

published on 14 October 2020

Container ship CMA CGM MISSOURI ran aground in Suez Canal while transiting in southern direction, at around 0930 UTC Oct 14. As of 1745 UTC, probably refloated or moved, several Suez Canal tugs attending. Traffic probably suspended, but it’s not confirmed. No information on what caused grounding.
Container ship CMA CGM MISSOURI, IMO 9679919, dwt 115600, capacity 9448 TEU, built 2016, flag Liberia.

0

Video Vessel "ELSE" crashes into closed lock gate in Kiel-Holtenau on 29.08.2020

published on 31 August 2020

Shortly after 5 a.m. local time the vessel “Else” had a collision in the Kiel-Holtenau lock to the Kiel Canal.
The "Else" subject to pilotage passed the pilot's boarding position without taking a sea pilot on board and collided from the outside into the closed gate of the new north lock. The bow bored into the metal construction and the ship was stuck for about six hours.
For more information about this accident see related content below (articles).

1

Video HURON SPIRIT / PILOT BOAT - Downbound Photo Op - Port Huron, Michigan 7-10-2025

published on 16 July 2025

HURON SPIRIT / PILOT BOAT - Downbound Passenger & Guests Photo Op Touch and Go Along Side Dirk S. Van En Kevort / Michigan Trader On The St. Clair River At Port Huron, Michigan.
HURON SPIRIT / PILOT BOAT - Downbound Demonstrating A Touch And Go Along Side The Dirk S. Van Enkevort / Michigan Trader For A Photo Op With Special Guest Onboard on the St. Clair River At Port Huron South of the Blue Water Bridges.

0

Article Flinders Port (AU) with new Pilot Boat

by Baird Maritime - published on 21 June 2024

South Australian port operator Flinders Ports has expanded its fleet of harbour services vessels with the recent acquisition of a newbuild pilot boat constructed by Hart Marine in the neighbouring state of Victoria.

1

Opinion Those irritating 20 %

by Ed Verbeek - published on 1 June 2021

Topic: Technical or human error?
Ed Verbeek already published this interesting article about the proportion of human to technical errors on LinkedIn last week.

2

Video Kiel Pilots using VR for next-level shiphandling simulation

by Captain, MSc. Remko Fehr - published on 13 December 2023

Kiel Pilots introducing Morild Interaktiv AS Virtual Reality Simulator for next-level manoeuvring training

1