200263 Pilot Ladder Unsafe

Pilot Ladder Unsafe
Report No. 200263

Whilst a Pilot was disembarking from the side door of a Ro-Ro vessel departing port, both the side ropes of the pilot ladder parted once the full weight of the pilot was on the first rung of the ladder. They were apparently rotten. The pilot fell vertically approximately two metres to the deck of the launch and was only saved from going into the sea by the seaman on the deck of the launch. The pilot was hurt and he is was still off work many months later. It is highly probable that he will not be able to resume his job as a pilot.

Subsequent investigation of the accident revealed the following deficiencies of the ladder and non- compliance with SOLAS;

1. The side ropes of the ladder had been served and therefore the ropes could not be readily inspected as they were covered.
2. There were no hand rails or stanchions, the pilot had to use the edges of the door to steady himself when mounting the ladder.
3. The vessel had an 8" rubbing band round the hull, this was 24" below the lower edge of the side door, the ladder could not rest against the side of the vessel at any point. The hull plating below the 8" rubbing band receded toward the keel so that the ladder was hanging in the air some distance from the hull.
4. Only one polypropylene man-rope was rigged.
5. Approximately 10 feet forward of the access door on the next deck above, a scupper pipe of approximately 6" diameter was discharging water from the vessel's deck onto the pilot boat and the pilot ladder, there was torrential tropical rain falling during the incident and this discharge was falling on the deck of the launch
6. When not in use the ladder was apparently swung inboard without any storage or care. This apparently allowed the ladder to remain wet and eventually rot.
7. The ship's officer that accompanied the pilot did not know anything about testing or inspecting of the equipment associated with the pilot ladder.

The question which must be asked is that, are the Classification Societies surveyors doing an efficient job? Every two years they issue a Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate on behalf of the Flag State that should include all of the above items. They have regularly approved the issuance of the certificates for many years with apparently no mention of any special arrangements and there has apparently been no attempt made in the past years to comply with SOLAS.

In this case the pilot in question boarded the vessel over the stern ramp and did not have the opportunity to inspect the pilot ladder arrangement prior to using it (the same might also be said when the pilot embarks for the first time from a launch).

The Master of the vessel is under the impression that his vessel is in compliance with SOLAS. Should not the innocent user of this equipment be warned what to expect? Many, many years since the implementation of SOLAS requirements, pilots are still faced with this type of situation. Any comments ?

Comment from a reader

The reporter made various comments regarding the competence and efficiency of Surveyors who are working on behalf of Flag States. It is worth remembering that it is the Master's responsibility that his vessel complies at all times with all appropriate regulations including the maintenance of ship's equipment. A rotten pilot ladder is a major failing on the Master's part as this equipment must be inspected and repaired, if necessary, on a regular basis.