The Pilot Ladder Parted During Pilot Disembarkation


MV Lady Nisreen’s Port Side Pilot Ladder Parted While Disembarking

I boarded the said vessel with LOA of 115.2 metres, 7.4 metres draft with fully safety attire adhered to Penang Port Commission ordinance and By-Laws (PPC 1955), SOLAS 1974  and Pilot’ Safety Operation Procedure (SOP) at 1530 hrs at Butterworth wharf #1 on 15th November and safely unberthed and piloted her with 7.3 metres draft towards North Channel. The VHF communication was established with Penang Port Control for safe passage of the said vessel within the port area and channel with regard to the said parties’ rules and regulations above.

While passing Petroleum Anchorage (PA) at the speed of 7.3 knots,  the Master advised that the vessel must to be anchored for immediate repair of  the main engine problem occurred. Once I have notified the Port Control, the said vessel was diverted slowly towards the anchorage area  with ebbing tide with 15 knots northerly winds with swell an little white horse tails. Finally after ensured that the said vessel was safe resting handsomely on her port anchor  at 1630hrs, I approached to port side  pilot ladder disembarkation.

While stepping on the ladder, the rope parted with sudden and both my hands were holding tight with weight to the upper ropes and my both legs were hanging freely with 1 metres above  boat deck which was slight pounding with the swells and 3 metres above the sea level. I quickly rose my legs up and tried to hold on the only one holding pilot ladder rope  and jumped on the boat deck once it came closer to my legs and managed to escape uninjured.

While on the boat deck, I suffered a little trauma of the accident and I saw the the ship officer and crew were looked stunning when scene occurred. Once I fully recovered myself, I told the officer to replace the pilot ladder at once and return to the Pilot Base and reported to my superior immediately.

I am disappointed as this accident happened and was considered lucky as not suffering  from any external  injures. It will be a disaster in my pilotage career and impact my family life if it happens otherwise. A number of pilots have died as a result of accidents while boarding/disembarking from ships, and many more have been seriously injured.

Normally, pilots board and disembark using a traditional rope ladder from and to a pilot boat. However, this can be a very dangerous procedure if those involved do not adhere to International Maritime Organization (IMO) standards or fail to practice acceptable seamanship skills. The pilot ladders remain the most safe and efficient way to board ships at sea and there is usually no alternative.

This accident can be avoided if the ship was fully compiled to SOLAS regulations, IMO Resolution A. 889 (21)  and International Harbour Pilots Association recommendations. The IMO Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS Chapter V, Regulation 23) sets out the principal requirements for the rigging of pilot ladders.


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