Pilot Ladders- Do Or Don't
Providing a compliant pilot ladder is not optional—it is a legal, operational, and safety-critical requirement.
In this episode, Barry draws on over 25 years as a marine pilot and more than 4,000 pilot ladder transfers to break down what actually matters when it comes to pilot transfer arrangements—and why so many vessels are still getting it wrong.
With the latest IMO requirements under SOLAS Chapter V, Regulation 23, and reinforced through MSC.572(110) and MSC.576(110), expectations are clear. Yet in practice, defects, poor rigging, and non-compliant arrangements remain widespread.
What’s at stake?
The transfer between a pilot boat and a moving vessel is one of the most dangerous routine operations at sea.
Failures in pilot ladder compliance can lead to:
- Fatal falls from height
- Crushing between vessel and pilot boat
- Drowning during transfer
- Immediate refusal of boarding by the pilot
- Costly delays and commercial disruption
What Barry covers in this episode:
- The key SOLAS requirements every officer must know
- The 2025 IMO updates and what has changed in practice
- Common non-compliances still seen onboard today
- Why deck shackles, poor securing, and worn ladders are unacceptable
- The real-world decision-making process of a pilot: board or refuse?
- How small mistakes lead to major operational consequence
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