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 Pilot boat catches fire in Brazil

published on 17 January 2022

A pilot boat caught fire near the entrance of the Port of Recife, on Saturday morning (15 January). The fire would have started around 11h. In a note, the port authority explained that the two people who were in the pilot boat were rescued by another pilot boat "Serrambi".
The causes of the accident had not yet been identified, but would be investigated.

0

Opinion Arie Palmers: "A case with a non compliant pilot transfer arrangement"

by Arie Palmers - published on 26 August 2024

Despite clear regulations and regular maintenance requirements, safety often falls by the wayside, as the current example of a bulk carrier vividly demonstrates.

3

Video Detailed Track: Collision of "Carnival Legend" and "Glory" on Dec 20 2019, Mexico

published on 17 April 2020

Two Carnival cruise ships collided in Cozumel, Mexico on December 20th 2019, causing damage to both ships.

1

Article More details and an analysis of the Ever Given accident

published on 6 October 2021

For "Der Spiegel", an experienced pilot and ex-captain analysed the accident of the freighter Ever Given, which blocked the Suez Canal for days, on the basis of documents. His conclusion: the captain and pilot made serious mistakes during the passage.

0

Video Japanese pilot loses his life

published on 5 May 2023

長崎県に入港するクルーズ船「ダイヤモンド・プリンセス」を誘導していた水先人の男性が海に転落し、男性はその後、死亡が確認された。 死亡したのは、水先人の大須賀祥浩さん(69)。 長崎海上保安部によると、5日午前5時半ごろ、パイロットボートから無線で「客船に移乗させる際にパイロットが海中に転落した」と通報があった。 大須賀さんは長崎港の入り口付近で海に転落し、クルーズ船の救命艇に救助されたが、およそ2時間後に死亡が確認された。 男性は5日に長崎に入港したクルーズ船「ダイヤモンド・プリンセス」を誘導する業務にあたっていた。

0

Video Nakilat MEGI LNG carrier transits Panama Canal

published on 2 January 2021

Nakilat’s newbuild MEGI LNG carrier Global Energy loaded a full cargo of LNG and transited the Panama Canal for the first time in late-2020. Chartered by Cheniere Marketing International, the 173,400cbm vessel is commercially and technically managed by Nakilat. Built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME), 'Global Energy' is the first of four LNG carrier newbuilds to be delivered to Global Shipping Co. Ltd., a joint venture of Nakilat and Maran Ventures Inc. (Maran Ventures).

0

Video Sabine Pilots move into new headquarters in Port Arthur

published on 14 May 2021

The Sabine Pilots who help ships navigate their way up and down our waterways officially have a new place to call home.

0