Pilot transfer arrangements
Not just ladders!
Relevant documents and M-notices: SOLAS Chapter V Reg. 23, IMO resolution A.1045(27), IMO resolution A.1108(29), pilotladdersafety.com, UKMPA.org, IMPA poster
If the examiner asks you about pilot transfer arrangements, do not immediately begin talking about pilot ladders. Talk about pilot transfer arrangements as a whole; pilot ladders are only one element. In this article we’ll look at the requirements, the technical specifications and the inspections and certification required.
Why is so much emphasis put on pilot transfer arrangements?
Every year, pilots die due to incorrect rigging, poor condition and inadequate provision of pilot ladders, accommodation ladders etc. Regulations require that ‘The rigging of the pilot transfer arrangements and the embarkation of a pilot shall be supervised by a responsible officer…’; this emphasises how seriously this is taken by maritime authorities and by pilots. The best revision guide for the practical rigging and dimensions of pilot transfer arrangements is probably the IMPA poster; consider printing this and posting it on your wall!
SOLAS V Reg. 23 requires that:
Ships engaged on voyages in the course of which pilots may be employed shall be provided with pilot transfer arrangements.
Equipment and arrangements for pilot transfer which are installed1 on or after 1 July 2012 shall comply with the requirements of this regulation, and due regard shall be paid to the standards adopted by the Organization
SOLAS V is made into UK law by the Merchant Shipping (Safety of Navigation) Regulations 2020
Before we move on to technical standards, what else does SOLAS V regulation 23 have to say about pilot transfer arrangements?
All arrangements used for pilot transfer shall efficiently fulfil their purpose of enabling pilots to embark and disembark safely. The appliances shall be kept clean, properly maintained and stowed and shall be regularly inspected to ensure that they are safe to use. They shall be used solely for the embarkation and disembarkation of personnel.
All pilot ladders used for pilot transfer shall be clearly identified with tags or other permanent marking so as to enable identification of each appliance for the purposes of survey, inspection and record keeping. A record shall be kept on the ship as to the date the identified ladder is placed into service and any repairs effected.
IMO Resolution A.1045 lays out the technical requirements for pilot transfer arrangements. The most important points are summarised below; these are likely to come up in an exam.
Ship designers are encouraged to consider all aspects of pilot transfer arrangements at an early stage in the design. This is because adequate securing points and arrangements for opening bulwarks or for stanchions and bulwark ladders need to be considered at the design stage. Also, the requirement for 6m of unobstructed ships side (i.e. no rubbing bands) is best considered at this stage.
A pilot ladder should be certified by the manufacturer as complying with this resolution (A.1045) or with ISO799-1:2019
Securing strong points, shackles and securing ropes should be at least as strong as the side ropes specified
Pilot ladder steps
Not less than 400mm between the side ropes
Not less than 115mm wide
Not less than 25mm in depth
Equally spaced not less than 310mm or more than 350mm apart
Secured so that they remain horizontal
If made of hardwood, they should be made of one piece that is free from knots. Otherwise, made of a material of equivalent stiffness, strength and durability. Often the first four steps of a pilot ladder will be made from a hard rubber, as this is less likely to be damaged by contact with the pilot vessel
No more than two steps may be replaced with steps secured in position by a method different than that used in the original construction.
How long should the pilot ladder be?
The pilot ladder must be capable of ‘reaching the water from the point of access to, or egress from, the ship and due allowance is made for all conditions of loading and trim of the ship, and for an adverse list of 15°’ (SOLAS V Reg. 23
Some vessels carry multiple lengths of pilot ladders, but it is more common to use intermediate securing (usually using a rolling hitch). Never secure a pilot ladder using a shackle over the side-ropes, as this puts the weight on the steps.
Spreader steps
Pilot ladders with more than five steps should have spreader steps not less than 1.8m long, provided at intervals to stop the pilot ladder from twisting. The lowest spreader step should be the fifth step from the bottom and the next should not exceed nine steps.
Tripping line (retrieval line)
What is a tripping line? This is a line used to make retrieval of the ladder easier. It should be fastened at or above the highest spreader step and should lead forward.
The ladder should be marked at regular intervals to assist with rigging the ladder to the required height above the water.
Side ropes and ladder construction
The pilot ladder should have two ropes at each side, not less than 18mm in diameter, with a breaking strain of at least 24kN per rope. These should be made of manila or a similar material. Each pair of side ropes should be secured below and above each step with a mechanical clamping device or a suitable seizing method with fixings (i.e. chocks). Seizing is the preferred method.
Pilot ladder marking and certificate
Pilot ladders are part of the safety equipment of a vessel, and as such are recorded in the Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate. This means that they need to be certificated. Each ladder should have a plate fitted on the underside of a step with the serial number, date of manufacture, and certifying authority for that ladder. It should feature a wheel mark of Red Ensign mark (shown below)
Inspections
Pilot ladders are subject to a ladder and step strength test at 30-month intervals. The name of the person/organisation carrying out this test, and the date, should be stamped on a plate which is then fitted to the same step bearing the ladder’s ID plate.
The pilot ladder should be subject to a pre-use inspection prior to being rigged.
In addition, expect to inspect the pilot ladder at intervals determined by the company SMS.
Storage
Once operations are finished, check the ladder for damage and stow in place of safety; dry, free from contaminants and out of the sun. If stored outside, cover with a tarp or similar to stop UV degradation of the side ropes. Sometimes (especially when there is a pilot door) pilot ladders are stored on a winch reel; if this is the case there must be an independent means of securing the ladder at deck level when deployed; never use the winch reel brake!
Repair
Replacement steps must come from the manufacturer. Crew can replace a max of 2 steps using alternative methods; if more than two are needed, the ladder needs to be replaced. Minor repairs may be made (replacement of whipping etc.) and all repairs must be recorded onboard.
Steps may not be held in place with bulldog grips; it is against the regulations and makes the ladder hard to climb. Never paint the steps. See MGN 610 page 21.
Rigging in combination with an accommodation ladder
SOLAS V Regulation 23 section 3.2
In all ships, where the distance from sea level to the point of access to, or egress from, the ship exceeds 9 m, and when it is intended to embark and disembark pilots by means of the accommodation ladder, or other equally safe and convenient means in conjunction with a pilot ladder, the ship shall carry such equipment on each side, unless the equipment is capable of being transferred for use on either side.
If the distance from the water to the point of ingress or egress (remember, some ships have pilot doors, so saying that this is to the freeboard deck is not accurate) is more than 9m then the pilot ladder must be rigged in combination with an accommodation ladder.
Accommodation ladders
At least 600mm in width
The lower platform must be at least 5m above the water (to avoid hitting the pilot boat). This platform should be horizontal, and secured to the ships side when in use.
Angle of slope when rigged should not exceed 45 degrees.
The pilot ladder should be rigged adjacent to the lower platform. The horizontal distance from the platform and the ladder should be between 0.1m and 0.2m. The ladder must extend at least 2m above the platform.
The ladder and platform should be equipped on both sides with stanchions and rigid handrails.
If a trapdoor is fitted in the lower platform to allow access to the pilot ladder, it should not be less than 750mm x 750mm
Pilot doors
These must have a minimum height of 220cm, a minimum width of 915mm and, if a platform is rigged from the door, this must measure at least 750mm by 750mm.
Stanchions, man-ropes etc.
Handhold stanchions (fitted to a bulwark) must extend no less than 120cm above the bulwark and have a minimum diameter of 32mm, and with a distance between them of between 0.7m and 0.8m.
Man-ropes should be rigged if requested by the pilot, otherwise they should be ready to be rigged if required. These should have a diameter of between 28mm and 32mm, with no knots in them.
Bulwark ladder or steps must be rigged for the pilot to climb down if the pilot ladder leads to a bulwark rather than the deck.
Additional equipment at the pilot boarding station
Lifebuoy fitted with self-igniting light
Heaving line - the heaving line is for the pilots bag, in case they prefer to send it up this way rather than climbing the ladder with it on their back.
Adequate lighting, rigged so that it faces forward so as not to blind the coxswain of the pilot boat
Who is at the pilot ladder?
The rigging of the pilot transfer arrangements and the embarkation of a pilot shall be supervised by a responsible officer having means of communication with the navigation bridge and who shall also arrange for the escort of the pilot by a safe route to and from the navigation bridge. Personnel engaged in rigging and operating any mechanical equipment shall be instructed in the safe procedures to be adopted and the equipment shall be tested prior to use.
Communications prior to boarding a pilot
Normally, once a pilot is booked, the pilot station will ask for confirmation by VHF one hour before the allocated boarding time. At time of confirmation they will request a boarding arrangement; usually this means a height above the water and sometimes a side. Once the pilot boat is approaching they may well request that you maintain a set course and speed to give them a lee for boarding and to minimise the movement of the ship; typically this might have the weather 2-3 points off the bow of the side opposite the pilot boarding arrangement.
At this point, generally one of the junior officers will take a VHF radio and proceed to standby at the pilot boarding location. They will confirm with the bridge that they are standing by and inform the bridge that the boarding arrangements are rigged. From this point, they should keep the bridge informed of developments:
Pilot boat approaching
Pilot boat alongside
Pilot on the ladder
Pilot onboard
Pilot boat clear of the ships side
Once the pilot boat is clear of the ships side they should escort the pilot to the bridge and introduce them to the master.
Communication on disembarking pilot
When disembarking a pilot the officer should escort them to the disembarking location and keep the bridge informed of developments:
Pilot boat approaching
Pilot boat alongside
Pilot on the ladder
Pilot away
Pilot boat clear of the ships side
What else should you know?
Mechanical pilot hoists are no longer allowed.
For information on the legal requirement to take a pilot and the process of pilotage itself, see our article on pilotage, linked below.
MCAQs
Where does the requirement to have pilot transfer arrangements come from?
Where is this made into UK law?
Where would you find the technical requirements for pilot transfer arrangements? (Hint: IMO resolution and websites for practical guidance).
When you check the condition of a pilot ladder, what are you looking at/for?
How strong should strong points be for attaching a pilot ladder?
What is a stanchion? Where would you expect these to be rigged?
What is the minimum distance between stanchions?
What is the minimum dimensions of an opening in the hull used to embark a pilot?
How long does a pilot ladder need to be?
How would you adjust the length of a pilot ladder?
How often should you check the condition of a pilot ladder? Where would you find this information?
Describe the process of embarking and disembarking a pilot, from the POV of the officer at the transfer station. Describe the information you’d pass to the bridge.