Article

Combinations Ladders: "1,000 combinations around" (by Arie Palmers)


by Arie Palmers, Netherlands - published on 13 July 2020 366 -

pictures and article by Arie Palmers

Dear reader,

Before you, you see my third article on pilot boarding arrangements. After my two previous articles
(‘1000 ways to secure a pilot ladder’ and ‘1000 ladders around’, I have received a lot of feedback and
also questions to get deeper into the matter of combinations and embarkation platforms.
Since the last two articles were published a lot has happened, more and more shipping companies as
well as pilot associations worldwide are getting more aware of pilot boarding safety issues and the
way to get pilot boarding arrangements safe and compliant. As you might know, sometimes it is a
very easy fix.

Concerning embarkation platforms… to get them compliant it often takes more effort: some
constructional features must be changed; class agencies will have to approve etc. etc. but the costs
to get it right will not be that high.. In this next article I would like to show you the rights and wrongs
of these pilot boarding arrangements and what can be done to make them compliant as easy as
possible.

In the next chapters we will also, as in the previous articles, get into the rules and I’ll try to explain as
good as possible what is correct and what is not correct, of course illustrated with pictures out of my
own database and from the database of facebook’s “dangerousladders”.

In this article names of shipping companies/ships and manufacturers will only be displayed for
educational purposes, it’s not my goal to favor or bash around any company.
Hope you will enjoy reading this article!!

Arie Palmers

Click here to view / download PDF "1,000 combinations around" (1.5 MB)
What's your opinion on this?
Login or register to write comments and join the discussion!
Read more...

Article Podcast: Maritime Pilot Safety and reducing the risk in pilot transfer operations

published on 4 July 2023

This is an in-depth discussion of the risks involved in maritime pilot transfers; an interesting job but with a risky commute to work.

0

Video Webinar Dangerous Ladders - Capt. Arie Palmers

published on 7 April 2022

Marine Pilot Arie Palmers, who works in the Netherlands, will make a presentation on the irregularities found in the embarkation and disembarkation ladders of ships. After suffering two accidents in 2018, Arie became an inspector of the problems and has been an active voice in search of corrections with shipping companies, manufacturers, certifiers and entities that deal with the theme. According to him, the day-to-day practice shows that more than 50% of the means of access to vessels are...

0

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 Risk Involved When Preparing Combination Ladder

published on 9 September 2020

Risk Involved When Preparing Combination Ladder

0

Video Pilot rejects unsafe pilot ladder in Izmir, Turkey

published on 18 May 2022

As a rule, every pilot has the right to refuse an unsafe ladder. Safety first! A brave pilot is not the one who uses an unsafe ladder, but the one who, in case of doubt, asks for a different ladder or a different setting.
Unfortunately, too many pilots climb a dubious ladder when in doubt.

0

Video Pilot Boat Ride in Port Huron, Freighter Captain

published on 8 July 2024

We had an amazing opportunity to go on a pilot boat with Captain Erick Gallagher and Captain Danny Gallagher, where we got a peek into their exciting jobs! Pilot boats transport maritime pilots between land and inbound or outbound ships. Video by bluewater.org, Blue Water Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

0

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