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Showing posts from November, 2023

Does A Pilot need a Helmet?

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 Does a pilot need to wear a helmet? The most critical part of a harbour pilot’s job is being  transferred from the pilot boat to the ship and vice versa. Many accident cases occurred  involving pilots falling from the pilot ladder either on the pilot boat or into the water with regard to various factors such as weather, ship's motion, failure of the pilot'  s ladder, human error etc. Thus, the pilot’s personal protective equipment is merely important in order to avoid any severe injury should any unforeseen circumstance occur.  Even though we still see pilots wearing what could be described as their Sunday's best on most of the reputable pilot organizations as it is mandatory now where at least an automatically inflatable lifejacket which incorporates all the SOLAS requirements for lifejackets. Safety shoes or boots and non-slippery gloves are usually also standard equipment used by the prudent pilot, even unnecessarily required. All these are merely important for the pilo

Pilot Ladder Arrangement

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 A pilot ladder should be certified by the manufacturer as complying with SOLAS,  Chapter V/Reg.   23 or ISO 799:2004 . The steps of the ladders should be made of hardwood, in one piece and non slippery. The steps should not be less than 115 mm wide, 25 mm in depth and should be not less than 400 mm between the side ropes. Pilot boarding arrangements generally consists of  a pilot ladder and in case of excessive freeboard (greater than 9 m), a combination ladder (a combination of the pilot ladder and accommodation ladder) . The pilot normally boards on the lee side of the ship.
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 Sewaktu berusia 7 tahun, aku suka ikut bapa ke Lumut untuk urusan pemalimannya. Selalunya kami perlu bertolak seawal 5.30 pagi dan mengambil feri pada pukul 6.00 pagi dan tidak banyak kenderaan ketika itu.  Masih segar diminda kami disambut dengan krew SPPP berbaju biru bersarung tangan menutupi pintu dan melepaskan tali tambatan . Feri kekuningan bergerak perlahan membelah laut di dalam keheningan pagi bercahaya malap dek sinaran lampuan pelabuhan. Kedengaran deruan dan percikan ombak memukul manja dibadan feri. Bapa mencuri masa lelapkan mata seketika. Aku menongkatkan muka sambil melamun jauh ditelan kegelapan. Sesekali feri melepasi kapal dagang berlabuh ditepian laluan.  Terasa cepat masa berlari ketika pintu dibuka lagi. Krew menoleh tersenyum seolah berkata sudah sampai untuk bergerak.

It is a part of the job

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10th October 2019....still remember the date and the passenger ship by the name of Hamilton which was supposed to be boarded at Pilot Station @ 0600hrs but was delayed 1/2 hours due to very heavy pours with zero visibility and soaked while piloting the outboard deep draft container vessel. Apologize for the delay due to the bad weather but was welcomed with angered reaction by the Master in front of his bridge crews who claimed to be drifted for almost 2 hours unaware of the pilot boarding time. Once anchored and about to sign the paper, he uttered the word 'sorry' for his behaviour but  ' keep it to yourself, Captain' came out from the mouth of the soaked and exhausted person who had tried the best to serve.