Safety Insights Paper – Pilot Ladder Arrangements 5

Observations

Over the past two years, RightShip has reviewed more than 21,000 PSC inspections, assessed over 2,500 incidents, and inspected over 4,600 vessels. This is in addition to the reviewing a large number of SIRE reports as part of the vetting process. Despite the industry’s efforts and campaigns to educate, we have observed an upward trend in deficiencies and non-conformities involving pilot ladders and arrangements. The data gathered from RightShip Inspections indicates that the pilot ladder related non-conformity percentage rate is in excess of 16%. Some of the recurring observations include, but are not limited to:

• Pilot ladders secured to deck with shackles, deck tongues, or bars so that the weight is transferred to the steps and not to the stronger side ropes.
• Ladder secured with ropes which are not strong enough to carry the weight.
• Ladder not secured to a designated strong point (secured to railings or other unsuitable structures).
• Ladder rigged over the sharp deck edge damaging side ropes.
• Broken, worn out, or non-horizontal steps or spreaders.
• Pilot ladder side ropes not of proper size, frayed, deteriorated, or found with splices.
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