Opinion

Active Pilot Deaths Between 1961-2023 in Turkey


by Uluç Hanhan - published on 31 January 2023 880 -

Dear Colleagues,

In this study, it was tried to determine the deaths and causes of active pilots (under 65 years old according to the legislation) during the 62 years between 1961 and 2023 in Turkey. Deaths during the retirement period were not included in the study. Pilots working in Turkish ports, straits and inland waters and, as an exception in Libya's Tobruk Port (only one pilot), took part in the study. The pilots who served as military workers in the Turkish Naval Forces Command were excluded from the study. In the study, the names and surnames, birth and death dates of the pilots, the age of death, the institution/organization in which he was assigned, the cause of death and the school and year he graduated from are presented. The researcher reached the pilots mentioned in the study with the means at hand. There may be deficiencies in the study. We would like to thank those who will contribute to this work in advance.

The death of 20 pilots during 62 years reveals that 1 pilot lost his life in 3,1 years. In my study in 2014, this ratio was 3,50.

Among the causes of death, heart-related diseases come first with 8 deaths. Other diseases come second with 6 deaths, and pilot ladder accidents come third with 4 deaths. In the fourth and last place, one death each comes because of traffic accident and fire/explosion on board.

Table-1 Below shows the causes, number and percentages of death included in the study:
Table-1 Causes of death, number, percentage.
Table-1 Causes of death, number, percentage.
Table-1 Causes of death, number, percentage.
Table-1 Causes of death, number, percentage.

Eight of the deaths occurred in the hospital and constitute the highest percentage (40%). Other fatalities are 7 on board, 3 at pilotage station, 1 at home and 1 in traffic, respectively.

Table-2 Below shows the place where the death occurred:
Table-2 Place of death
Table-2 Place of death
Table-2 Place of death
Table-2 Place of death

The most intense ranges in the death age range are 61-65 (6 deaths-30%) and 51-55 (5 deaths-25%). The youngest death is 35, while the oldest is 64.

Table-3 Below shows the age range, number, and percentage of death:
Table-3 Age range, number, percentage of death.
Table-3 Age range, number, percentage of death.
Table-3 Age range, number, percentage of death.
Table-3 Age range, number, percentage of death.

The graduated school is 80% Turkish Merchant Maritime Academy (TMMA, today İstanbul Technical University Maritime Faculty). Due to the difficulty in obtaining pilots in Turkey before the 70s, pilots were recruited from graduates of other schools.

Graduated schools are shown in Table-4 below:
Table-4 Graduated university / academy/ school
Table-4 Graduated university / academy/ school
Table-4 Graduated university / academy/ school
Table-4 Graduated university / academy/ school

Pilots who died before 1996 due to the privatization of pilotage in Turkey (except Tobruk Port – Capt. Erdoğan Baykal) are public pilots. In the institution/organization where the deceased work, the public company has the highest density (50%)

The following Table-5 shows the institutions/organizations that work:
Table-5 Institutions/organizations served
Table-5 Institutions/organizations served
Table-5 Institutions/organizations served
Table-5 Institutions/organizations served

The relationship between heart diseases (40%) and age at death, which is the first cause of death, is important. In the table below, 61 is the age with the highest death rate.

Table-6 below shows the age ranges of those who died because of heart diseases:
Table-6 Age ranges, number, percentage of those who died as a result of heart diseases.
Table-6 Age ranges, number, percentage of those who died as a result of heart diseases.
Table-6 Age ranges, number, percentage of those who died as a result of heart diseases.
Table-6 Age ranges, number, percentage of those who died as a result of heart diseases.
Table-8 Table shows ages and percentage of deaths of all pilot:
In Table-8 shows age of death, number, and percentage
In Table-8 shows age of death, number, and percentage
In Table-8 shows age of death, number, and percentage
In Table-8 shows age of death, number, and percentage

This article has focused on the deaths of active pilots over the past 62 years. Questions such as how these can be avoided and what are the near-accident situations are not explored here. Naturally, it is important to investigate them. In this regard, the numbers in the world are also not satisfactory. We, as pilots, especially must take action to improve the pilot transfer systems, right now. The steps to be taken about the perfection of the pilot transfer system in the world are vital and indispensable for us.

May God have mercy on the 20 valuable pilots we bid farewell to infinity in this work, and the pilots who passed away in retirement, may their souls rest in peace.

 

Kind regards

Capt. Uluç Hanhan

Board Member of Turkish Maritime Pilot Association

www.uluchanhan.com

https://www.denizcilikdergisi.com/yazarlar/uluc-hanhan/kilavuz-kaptanlarin-is-kazalarinda-ilk-sirayi-carmih-aliyor/

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.
Author: Uluç Hanhan
active marine pilot - Turkish Maritime Pilots Association

Join the conversation...

Login or register to write comments and join the discussion!
Marine pilot Kamel Fattoum Trapsa, Tunisia
on 31 January 2023, 17:47 UTC

Thank you for this study. I can say that 2 major problems of deaths accidents occurs to pilots in turkey and world wide. 1st heart deseases 40% and second at pilot ladder. I can confirme that heart deseaes are common for pilots due to the work under stress. In tunisia port of la goulette we have 3 pilots which has heart deseases was stopped working as pilot the port manager gives the other easy duty till retirement ages of thems 55 years old.This procedure have been used after the death of one pilot in 1990th by heart attact at home before retirement.
0

Read more...

Video M+ Maritime I ECDIS Safety Settings | Full Video | Episode 1

published on 11 July 2020

M+ releases the 1st video of ECDIS competency series on “Safety Settings” presented by Safe Lanes. Use them for training crew, enhance safety standards & professional knowledge. Stay tuned for our upcoming series on ECDIS competency, Anchor losses, Incidents, PCS & vetting preparations & Human Elements training. These “first of it's kind” learning videos are based on PSC & vetting observations to provide solutions & enhance your professional competency. Pls feel free to connect to get a...

2

Article New Pilot Ladder Magnet Is Switchable

published on 29 June 2021

On the back of the long-standing success of the Yellow-Mag ll Pilot Ladder Magnet worldwide, Serpent & Dove—Applied Magnetics is introducing its patented Yellow-Mag lll Switchable Pilot Ladder Magnet.

0

Article US Coast Guard: Verify gateway handhold arrangements

published on 25 April 2022

The US Coast Guard "Safety Alert 04-22" has been released. The alert addresses the importance of verifying the correct arrangement of handholds in embarkation gate arrangements aboard merchant vessels.

0

Video Failed overtaking of another ship in a canal - Port Revel Shiphandling

published on 10 May 2020

Manoeuvring large ships at close quarters and on shallow water is one of the most difficult aspects of shiphandling because of the complex hydraulic interactions depending on the ships' speeds, on the water depth and on lateral restrictions like in canals. Training is conducted both on meeting and on overtaking ships in shallow waters. This video shows how overtaking in a canal can easily fail.
More information: http://www.portrevel.com/3781-shiphan...

0

Video Saving Lives of Maritime Pilots with a Simple Action

published on 20 August 2021

While maritime pilots play the crucial role of ensuring safety of ships, protection of port environment as well as public safety, their personal safety often takes a back seat. However, the simple action of routine maintenance of equipment can save lives.
Learn more https://maritimefairtrade.org/saving-lives-maritime-pilots/
#maritimefairtrade #maritime #maritimeindustry #maritimenews #marinenews #shippingnews #incidentresponse #incidentmanagement #incident #incidentresponseplan...

0

Article Rope snapped: Marine Pilot accident in Durban, South Africa.

by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 29 April 2020

A 35-year-old male sea pilot of the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) fell into the sea from a crude oil tanker near the N Shed Wharf in the port of Durban. A rope of the pilot ladder is said to have snapped for an undetermined reason when the man disembarked while leaving the crude oil tanker which was leaving the port of Durban.

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

Video AIS Track APL MEXICO CITY - Accident in Antwerp on 09.12.2019

published on 10 September 2020

Video AIS Track by Nolan Dragon - www.MarineTraffic.com What had happened: Container ship APL MEXICO CITY broke off her mooring at Doel, Antwerp, in the afternoon Dec 9, drifted across harbor and contacted DP World pier crane. Crane collapsed and was totally destroyed. No injures reported. Cause of the accident (according to the report from FEBIMA): "The allision of the mv APL MEXICO CITY with a gantry crane at the Port of Antwerp on 9 December 2019 stemmed from exceptional meteorological...

0

Video Dublin Port People - Robbie Cox - Marine Operative on Pilot Boat

published on 29 August 2020

As part of our Port Perspectives series we have captured the perspective of what is like to work in Dublin Port from some key members of our team. This video features Robert Cox, a Marine Operative at Dublin Port Company. Robbie as he is better known provides an insight into his varied role at the Port from operating Pilot Boat Camac, delivering Pilots safely to vessels, to placing fenders at the quay wall no two days are ever the same! Robbie also captures some amazing images of Dublin...

0