We take a look at some of the dangerous ladder arrangements provided by ships when attempting to take maritime pilots on board. Our message is simple: if you are offered an unsafe or non-compliant ladder, do not board!

Harbor Pilot Nasir Khan from Pakistan has sent his own checklist to Marine-Pilots.com - we share this list for our readers and look forward to an interesting discussion.

Marine pilot

"Analysis of reports indicates that pilot ladders (Pilot Transfer Arrangements, or PTAs) and
intentional deviations from safety procedures remain the main causes of near misses..."

Download Document here

Container ship MADRID TRADER ran aground in fairway while entering Mar del Plata Port, Argentina, at around 1830 UTC Jan 20, with pilot on board.

Here’s a nice little video of pilotage at the Port of Cork as Safehaven’s Interceptor Pilot 48 ‘Solas’ undertakes pilot transfer with the Grimaldi line ferry ‘Grande Spagna’ in a heavy swell. We captured some fabulous drone footage.

Gabon, Baie du Prince, 2012.
Getting that nice fat lady alongside