Another non-compliant trap door arrangement

On August 5, 2020 at approximately 10:30 pm, Sandy Hook Pilot Captain Timothy M. Murray was involved in an incident while boarding a tanker vessel inbound to the Port of New York & New Jersey. He sustained injuries after falling from a pilot ladder and was evacuated to a local hospital where his injuries proved to be fatal.

The American Pilots’ Association has sent a letter to state pilotage authorities across the United States on behalf of approximately 1,200 American ship pilots to improve safety pilot safety following the death of a New York pilot in December.

It has been exactly one year ago that a pilot from Sandy Hook (New York), Dennis Sherwood, died in the line of duty while attempting to board the container vessel Maersk Kensington.
What has happened since then? Has safety been improved for the pilots?

May is Maritime Month at the Port of San Diego and we are proud to highlight some of our hardworking men and women of the Working Waterfront. Meet Captain Lyle Donovan, a San Diego Bay pilot with the San Diego Bay Pilots Association. His work consists of guiding ships in and out of San Diego Bay in a safe and efficient manner. A typical day includes guiding a 650-foot car carrying vessel or a 950-foot cruise ship into San Diego Bay. This entails boarding the vessels by climbing up a ladder,...

In early December, just as I was starting to get into ship spotting, I saw a couple of vessels headed up river towards Philly. One of them, the Cielo di Iyo met with the harbor pilot right as I had my drone up. I was able to capture the Pilot coming to meet the vessel and CLIMBING the ladder to get on board just before she passed beneath the Walt Whitman Bridge.

Turkish Straits , Istanbul Strait , Maritime Pilot , www.turkishpilots.org.tr

Editor's note: The pilot boarding seems a bit improvised and unsafe to me, but that's certainly business as usual, isn't it?

IMPA has published examples of best practice together with a letter from Capt. Simon Pelletier, President of IMPA.

An unforgettable sunrise at sea as the pilot boat Hadrian delivers a pilot to the Grampian Tweed on approach to the Port of Tyne! With the sky blazing in incredible colours, we head out at first light to meet the Grampian Tweed offshore. Watch as the Hadrian carefully manoeuvres alongside to safely transfer the pilot, all against the backdrop of a stunning North Sea sunrise. This is a true behind-the-scenes look at life on the water — ship handling, teamwork, and breathtaking views from the...