Example of a “trapdoor” arrangement with ladder hanging from bottom of platform. Image courtesy American Pilots’ Association
The American Pilots’ Association has sent a letter to state pilotage authorities across the United States on behalf of approximately 1,200 American ship pilots to improve safety following the death of a New York pilot in December.
The letter comes after Captain Dennis Sherwood of the Sandy Hook Pilots Association was killed in a fall while boarding an inbound containership on December 30, 2019. According to preliminary reports, the ladder arrangement used during the accident involved a combination of an accommodation ladder and a pilot ladder, with a “trapdoor” that requires the pilot pull themselves up while also twisting to ensure proper footing on the platform.
According to the APA’s letter, this “trapdoor” is commonly used within the industry despite the known dangers associated and IMO guidelines against it.
“This trapdoor arrangement is currently found on a number of ships with accommodation ladder-pilot ladder combinations, despite the facts that it has long been considered by pilots to be unsafe and that the IMO has recognized that it is unsafe by taking steps to eliminate it,” the APA states in the letter. “Since at least 1979, IMO guidelines have recommended that pilot ladders used with a trapdoor extend to the height of the platform’s handrail. The purpose of that recommended practice is to bring the ladder steps up to a level from which the pilot can step across to the platform rather than pull himself or herself up to it.”
The APA says the issue of unsafe pilot conditions was addressed nine years ago when the International Maritime Organization revised SOLAS pilot transfer regulation (SOLAS V/23) and implementing guidelines (Res. A.1045), found here.
Specifically, Regulation 23 specifies that a pilot ladder “shall be rigged through the trapdoor and extend to the height of the handrail” and, in addition, “means shall be provided to secure the lower platform of the accommodation ladder to the ship’s side, so as to ensure that the lower end of the accommodation ladder and the lower platform are held firmly against the ship’s side.”
Resolution A.1045 similarly provides that when a trapdoor is used in a combination arrangement, “the pilot ladder should extend above the lower platform to the height of the handrail and remain in alignment with and against the ship’s side.”
“Against this background, it is frustrating, and now tragic, that pilots continue to encounter, and have to deal with, trapdoor arrangements like the one found on the ship from which Captain Sherwood fell. BUT, it doesn’t have to be this way. Complying with Regulation 23 and Resolution A.1045 is not an expensive proposition. Replacing or retrofitting equipment to meet the standards would not be a significant project,” the APA’s letter states.
On behalf of the 1,200 ship pilots in the U.S. state pilotage system, the APA is now asking the various pilotage authorities across the country to communicate with their pilots and the maritime community of the dangers associated with the trapdoor arrangement and remind both pilots and crews that that pilot has the right to refuse transfer if a situation is reasonably perceived as unsafe, as well as inform about IMO standards currently in effect.
MANILA, Sept 25 (Reuters) – The Philippines said on Monday it executed a “special operation” to remove a floating barrier installed by China at a prime fishing patch in the South China...
KYIV, Sept 25 (Reuters) – Ukraine’s Special Forces said on Monday that Admiral Viktor Sokolov, the commander of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, had been killed in a Ukrainian attack last week on...
(Bloomberg) — The Luksic family, South America’s wealthiest with a combined fortune of about $25 billion, is reaping the benefits of a bet on global shipping and port logistics more...
September 22, 2023
Total Views: 5087
Let gCaptain be your compass for maritime news
The news that you need delivered every morning.
Sign Up Now for gCaptain Daily
We’ve got your daily industry news related to the global maritime and offshore industries.
OUT AT SEA?
We’ve got you covered with trusted maritime and offshore news from wherever you are.
OUT AT SEA?
We’ve got you covered with trusted maritime and offshore news from wherever you are.
JOIN OUR CREW
Maritime and offshore news trusted by our 93,914 members delivered daily straight to your inbox.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.