Video

Is this safe? Pilot Boarding with two man ropes (Australia).

published on 29 July 2022 - 1365 -

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Found on YouTube. Created by "jayrassicmark". Originally published on 2022-07-27.

Editor's note:
We are curious about the opinions on this type of boarding.
This is Pilot Boat GENESIS from Australia.

Join the conversation...

Tony Crabbe United Kingdom

on 14 November 2024, 23:20 UTC

I never used the manropes while ascending as it puts too much reliance on arm strength and not enough on leg strength. It also causes you to lean back and lose stability as the width of the rungs prevent you from maintaining stability through a wider gait.
Nevertheless I ued them for descending as they allow for a quicker landing on the pilot boat in a swell and reduce the risk of leg entrapment.
Lastly on ascending there would be four points of securing that might fail. On descent I was able to check each one before stepping out.

I would not accept it being mandated which way it should be done but all choices should be available. Each to his own.

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Pilot Mackenzie Moseley British Columbia Coast Pilots, Canada

on 8 August 2022, 05:39 UTC

At least they wore helmets….

The boat stayed under them with that railing to fall across and cause catastrophic injuries….

No reason it couldn’t have backed away….

At least they wore foam jackets with inherent buoyancy and some ballistic protection if they fell backwards onto the rail.

Inflatable jackets that aren’t maintained or fail to inflate make me nervous.

Easy ways to be safer….

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A community member on 8 August 2022, 05:39 UTC

This comment has been removed.

Capt Martin White Port Authority New South Wales, Australia

on 4 August 2022, 22:52 UTC

Well I’ve completed over 7000 transfers using man ropes for boarding and disembarking off Sydney. No right or wrong way.

Captain Andrea Caroli Deep North Sea Pilot, France

on 1 August 2022, 21:35 UTC

2nd time in life I see this (previous was at Richards Bay, circa 1988). Cannot understand the purpose of these ropes either in climbing and descending. Ladder ropes are far safer to grab
, IMHO.

Hugh Ripley Port of Townsville, Australia

on 31 July 2022, 06:33 UTC

It's believe it's a matter of individual preference - I always have them removed for boarding, have them rigged for disembarking. I don't think there is a right or wrong way. Couple of other observations though. Both pilots on deck not clipped on to a traveller - first one does hold onto it though. Ascending a pilot ladder with a backpack on - dangerous. And as for the deckhand - don't know why he bothered to go out on deck - no lifejacket, no safety strop made fast to the traveller and no attempt to check the ladder - very casual.

A community member on 31 July 2022, 06:25 UTC

This comment has been removed.

Howard Bryant United Kingdom

on 30 July 2022, 10:53 UTC

Perfectly safe and used usefully in a heavy swell but not needed under the conditions pictured. The manropes should be taken in; it is dangerous to wear a backpack. Anything to be taken aboard should be hauled up on a heaving line.

Paul Nevins USA

on 29 July 2022, 19:38 UTC

When climbing, keeping the body weight over the feet/vertical for use of the strong leg muscles to propel upward. Hands for the stability vs pullups all the way up. The ropes lean you back & out away from the ship. Your body weight is also on the move out/away. If in weather, makes you more vulnerable to wind/sea.

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