Pilot Ladders: First sign of vessel’s safety standards ?

Shipping is changing drastically and not all changes are liked by shipowners, ship managers, and seafarers. But if there was one change that is being welcomed by all is this... Shipping industry now takes every personal injury or death very seriously. For tanker operators, the oil Majors even require a death onboard any of their vessels to be reported to them. We have to consider this change as a welcome change. The KPI for Personal injuries and deaths need to be set to zero, an absolute zero. But one area where we keep hearing about the loss of life or injuries for that related to embarking and disembarking of pilots. We need to bring these to zero as well. But that won't happen just by thinking about it. Pilot embarkation & disembarkation is a very routine but risky operation. We keep hearing the tragic news of the death of pilots while embarking and disembarking from the ships. All of these accidents are avoidable. So what we, seafarers can do to avoid these accidents? Well, we can ensure that the boarding arrangements are adequate and safe for pilot embarkation and disembarkation. Let us discuss how it is done. Pilot ladder requirement The principle requirement for the pilot ladders is governed by Regulation 23, chapter V of the SOLAS. There are few other references that talk ...