Pilot Boarding Bulk Carrier SAMMY in Saudi Arabia.

photo and article by Luis Vale, Portugal

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.

Tuesday, October 1st is the start date of the latest International Maritime Pilot Association's annual Safety Campaign.

Previous campaigns by the association have consistently shown results of pilot ladder deficiencies around the 20% mark.

by "Mallu Sailor" on YouTube
Do you know how difficult to board a ship through pilot ladder.

#PilotVessel "SEA PILOT"/ On board #BulkCarrierShip "ASL ARK" #KM239_1 #PuntaIndioChannel #Recalada #RioDeLaPlata #JP #BoardingPoint/ 19th. August 2025 - 09:47 Local Time.- On this video (with original sound), you can watch the moment in which the Pilot Vessel "SEA PILOT" arrived to the Port Side of the Bulk Carrier Ship "ASL ARK" (Approaching Maneuver) to Disembark the Rio de la Plata Pilots, from that vessel at the #BoardingStation​ #KM239_1 #PuntaIndioChannel #Recalada​ #RioDeLaPlata​.-...

Fewer vessels in voyage mean less pilotage and this means less income for many Pilots. Not every Pilot is an employee and many pilots are self-employed and organised in a brotherhood per example. They are earning only money if they are piloting a vessel. No vessel – no money.

Captain David Gelinas will discuss the history of the Pen Bay Pilots and how the Maine's State Pilotage System is practiced on Penobscot Bay. He will also share stories about Captain Bill Abbott who mentored him when he became a pilot.

The Damen Stan Pilot 1605 FRP is optimised for operations in harbours and coastal waters. It offers excellent manoeuvrability and low resistance, whilst its composite construction ensures minimal maintenance and robust durability.

The new pilot boat "Buran" has been delivered to Poseidon Sea Pilots of Queensland, Australia.

It has been shown that a majority (51%) of pilot ladders is secured by means of D-shackles, when secured at intermediate length. Previous research (Evans, 2020) has proven that this method has only about 50% of the strength of the pilot ladder when secured at full length (“double ended ladder”), or by means of the “endless-sling” method.