200322 Pilot Access Collapsed

Pilot Access Collapsed
Report No. 200322

I was the Pilot and Mooring Master responsible for and discharge operation of a spiked crude oil cargo registered in Valletta, at a Single Point Mooring oil terminal.

The vessel arrived at the roads and was boarded at 0900. At 1530hrs on the same day, the discharge operation started and was safely completed on the morning of the following day. Soon afterwards, normal pre-departure procedures followed and then I asked the Captain for a portside combination ladder for disembarking. Having completed the rigging before casting off the SPM buoy, the accommodation ladder davit parted and the end of the ladder dipped into the water and hung in that position supported by the platform.

The davit arm post was labelled "checked Jan. 2002" which was barely a year before but the post, which is housed inside the deck support, was completely corroded and could no longer support the davit's weight (see accompanying photographs).

Not all pilot rigs are safe. The marks labelled on them may be intended for surveyor's satisfaction and are supposed to be for safety. Pilots need to counter check thoroughly the rigs before attempting the embarking/disembarking process. Thank God, this near miss accident happened during the daytime, I could have lost my life.