Article

An Analysis of Pilotage Marine Accidents in Korea (2019)


published on 18 August 2020 277 -

Authors: Yong An Park, Tsz Leung Yip, Hong Gyue Park
Published by: "The Asian Journal of Shipping and Logistics"
Volume 35, Issue 1, March 2019, Pages 49-54


Abstract:
Concerns have been raised around pilotage in Korea due to a rise in marine accidents in the 2010s. Since the late 2000s, a debate has been sparked on the most suitable age of retirement for Korean pilots. The debate has focused on the extension of retirement age of pilots from 65 to 68 and whether this will affect the probability of marine accidents. Therefore, it is crucial to calculate the probability of marine accidents in relation to different age groups of pilots. After collecting the data of marine accidents caused by pilot's negligence, the study suggests two measurements of probability of marine accidents during pilotage: on the basis of the number of pilotage services and the hours of pilotage services. The analysis finds that age is not the exclusive cause of pilotage marine accidents by the age group over 65.

Intrduction:
Pilotage, in maritime terms, means the services of a pilot, who gets on board to guide a ship along safe waterways in and around a port or at sea. In Korea, the license of a pilot is issued by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF), after rigorous tests.

There have been several issues and challenges for pilotage in Korea. First of all, pilots and the Korea Maritime Pilot’ Association (KMPA) have requested MOF to extend the retirement age of pilots from 65 to 68 since 2009. In 2009, the Korean Government stopped the extension of retirement age. Before this decision Korean pilots could serve additional three years after the age of 65. Second, the average age of pilot applicants rose from 50.0 in 2005 to 52.1 in 2013. Higher revenue of a pilot than that of a captain in Korea lures senior seafarers to apply to a pilot's license. In addition, average age of newly licensed pilots jumped from 43.4 in 2000 to 53.3 in 2013 (KMPA, 2014). The aging of newly licensed pilots is caused by the seniority preference system of license examination, where a senior seafarer can get a higher score in the evaluation of navigation experience. The aging of pilots and applicants raised a concern about pilotage skill from the customers and the shipping companies. Thirdly, marine accidents during pilotage in the 2010s, such as oil spills in Yeosu of 1,003 thousand litres in January 2014, heated up the debate on pilotage and marine safety. The pilot and captain in the 2014 oil spill were arrested due to negligence not by the Pilotage Act, but by the Marine Environment Management Act. The Pilotage Act describes a pilot on board as an advisor or an information provider on navigation around a port (Park, 2018).

The MOF drafted and proposed a new Pilotage Act to the National Assembly in November 2016, in order to handle policy issues in service quality and marine accidents. Even with a new amendment of Pilotage Act, major pilots aged 65 and under, and KMPA assert continually that it is necessary for MOF to extend the retirement age in order to better utilize the skills and experience of aged pilots. Hence, an exact analysis on marine accidents during pilotage may lead the MOF, pilots, KMPA, and shipping companies to an agreement on the main causes of the marine accidents and on policy decision of the retirement age of pilots. The debate on the retirement age still exists.

The present paper aims at reviewing marine accidents during pilotage in Korean ports and examining the characteristics of each group of pilots by age and port. Diverse elements of hazards during pilotage come from competency of a pilot, competency of captain, port control, passage plan, navigation aids, and weather (Trbojecvic and Carr, 2000). Understanding these elements, the paper focuses on the pilotage marine accidents caused by pilot's negligence. The Korea Maritime Safety Tribunal (KMST) examines and judges the causes of marine accidents in accordance with articles of the Act on Investigation and Inquiry into Marine Accidents. Hence the paper can clarify the causes of marine accidents during pilotage and limit its analysis on the cases of pilot's negligence. The paper is structured as in the following. Section 2 includes literature review on marine accidents and data collection on the pilotage marine accidents in Korea. Section 3 explains the main methodology of the analysis on pilotage marine accidents. Section 4 describes the pilotage marine accidents and analyses them by groups of pilots age and by port. Section 5 discusses the results of Section 4 and presents different views on a higher probability of the aged pilots in the pilotage marine accidents. Section 6 concludes the paper.
What's your opinion on this?
Login or register to write comments and join the discussion!
Read more...

Article Unofficial internal company timeline report of the ship accident in Busan 6 April 2020

by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 14 April 2020

"ONE - MSQ Accident News No. 31": ONE operated 13,900 TEU vessel “M/V Milano Bridge” has collided with gantry cranes and another vessel while approaching berth at PNC #8. This was the first berthing for phasing-in after Dry Dock.

0

Article AMSA has published the first marine incident annual report

published on 20 October 2020

AMS has released the annual report of marine incidents reported from regulated Australian and foreign flagged vessels in Australian waters. It includes an analysis of reported marine incidents during 2016 to 2019, with a focus on 2019 data.

0

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 A helpful "Dangerous Ladders Tool: The app “NO RUMO CERTO” from Brazil

by Porthos Lima, Brazil - published on 17 January 2020

My name is Porthos Lima and I am the Technical Director of Brazilian Pilots Association. I have been working as a Pilot for 20 years. I am here today to introduce you to our App "No Rumo Certo". The App was inspired in 2017 IMPA SAFETY CAMPAIGN.

1

Video Containership Loses Power Entering Tampa Bay | Pilot Utilized Tugs to Stop the Ship

published on 9 September 2024

Another Ship Loses Power September 8, 2024 In this episode, Sal Mercogliano - a maritime historian at Campbell University (@campbelledu) and former merchant mariner - discusses the loss of power on board the containership Tyndall as it made its approach to the pier in Tampa on September 5, 2024. #supplychain #containerships #tyndall #tampa #pilot #docking Support What's Going on With Shipping via: Patreon: www.patreon.com/wgowshipping Twitter: @mercoglianos Facebook: @wgowshipping...

0

Video Evergreen containership aground near Baltimore

published on 15 March 2022

A container ship is reported to be stranded off the coast of Gibson Island in the Chesapeake Bay. Marine Tracker lists the ship as the Ever Forward and that it is aground. It appears there are several tugboats out of Baltimore trying to assist. The company that operates the ship, Evergreen, is the same one that was responsible for the ship that got stuck in the Suez Canal a year ago.

0

Video Maritime Training: Pilot Ladders: Safe Rigging Procedures

published on 25 February 2020

Pilot transfer operations always involve risk, even when conditions are favorable. Learn the essential safety procedures involved in this operation.
Visit https://www.maritimetraining.com/Course/Pilot-Ladders-Safe-Rigging-Procedures to purchase the full-length version.

0

Article Norwegian Coastal Administration is working on salvaging Eemslift Hendrika

published on 7 April 2021

Norwegian coast guard said that there is still a risk that the ship may capsize and pose an environmental
hazard.The ship is still drifting, and is located 40-50 nautical miles west of Alesund. KV Sortland is still on
site, and they are the Coastal Administration's eyes and ears.

1

Video Pilot tender WESER PILOT (Bremerhaven)

published on 2 April 2025

Floating pilot transfer station for the provision of pilots in the Weser estuary / German Bight sets sail again after a stay of several hours for supplies at Willy Brandt Platz on the Weser. The ship is approx. 61 metres long, 25 metres wide and has a draught of approx. 6.4 metres. It was completed at the Abeking & Rasmussen shipyard in 2010. The catamaran-style hull construction is striking. Slight distortions in the picture are due to the stabilisation in Google Photos.
Original sound...

0

Video What to expect from a port State control ship inspection in Australia

published on 25 July 2024

If you own, operate or command a foreign-flagged ship entering an Australian port, you may be subject to a port State control inspection by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. Help prepare your ship for compliance by watching the video below and visiting our website for more pre-inspection resources.

0