Video

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

published on 29 July 2022 - 1365 -

Show comment section |

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.

[show more]

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….

[show more]

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.

Andrea Caroli 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.

Video Kittiwake Mersey Pilot

published on 22 December 2021

KITTIWAKE ( MMSI 232008570) is a Pilot and currently sailing under the flag of United Kingdom (UK) Here she is speeding down the River this morning.

Video Pilot Transfer - New Zealand (Auckland) & Australia (Melbourne/Fremantle)

published on 21 October 2021

Spotted some Pilot Boats in the Port of Auckland, New Zealand and Melbourne & Fremantle Australia (Port codes: Auckland:NZ AKL ; Melbourne:AU MEL ; Fremantle:AU FRE).

Video Pilot Leaving Ship Vigo

published on 31 March 2023

Video Pasaia Pilot boats on duty

published on 6 January 2026

Pilot boats in action. The key elements for a safe pilot transfer.

Article Kongsberg Digital to provide the Panama Canal Authority with simulators for multi-vessel training scenarios

published on 16 April 2021

Kongsberg Digital has signed a contract with the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) to upgrade and extend the K-Sim Navigation simulators based in SIDMAR; the Center for Simulation, Research and Maritime Development of the Panama Canal Authority.

Video Marine pilot boat | valencia pilot

published on 6 April 2021

Marine Pilot leaving our ship during night in valencia port harbour.

Video Falmouth Pilots: Working as Maritime Pilot (Documentary 2019)

published on 30 March 2022

Documentary from 2019 by "The Sea Lad"

Video Poseidon Sea Pilots offers hands-on world’s best-practice marine pilot training

published on 14 October 2021

Poseidon Sea Pilots offers hands-on world’s best-practice marine pilot training. Highly skilled mariners perfect their local knowledge thanks to time in a high tech simulator and real world experience in Moreton Bay and the Brisbane River.

Video Another non-compliant trap door arrangement

published on 4 October 2021

Some pilots have already lost their lives because of this non-compliant construction. We don't want to see such an arrangement again. Here is a latest video from the Middle East.