AWP Web Blog

The 110th session of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 110) was held from 18 to 27 June 2025. The session adopted SOLAS amendments to improve the safety of transfer arrangements for pilots and other personnel embarking and disembarking ships, and made significant progress on a new non-mandatory code of safety for autonomous ships (MASS Code).

Despite our extensive efforts to prevent brand misuse and document forgery, DNV occasionally encounters such incidents. Although counterfeit certificates represent only a small fraction of our annual issuances, we acknowledge the associated risks. This technical news highlights the issue of counterfeit certificates for pilot ladders and mooring ropes.

Marine Inspectors from Sector Maryland-National Capital Region (NCR) discovered counterfeit pilot ladders during a Port State Control Examination at the Port of Baltimore. The identification plate on the ladder (Figure 1) contained several errors, including referencing ISO 779-1 instead of the correct standard, ISO 799-1, and lacking the ISO 799-1 designation type. Additionally, while the serial number on the ladder matched the accompanying certificate, the number of steps and the length of the ladder did not align with the specifications listed on the certificate

This marine notice aims to raise awareness of the risks involved with getting on and off vessels.

RightShip presents four different case studies to highlight an alarming trend has emerged from incident & inspection data over the last two years with regards to ladders and pilot transfer arrangements.

Since November 2017 several pilots’ lives were placed at risk, in multiple separate incidents where a man rope parted, or its securing point failed. Additionally, AMSA receives several incidents reports on safety issues related to pilot transfer arrangements.

This Information Notice provides guidance on pilot boarding arrangements, in order to comply with the provisions of Regulation 23 of Chapter V of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended (SOLAS Chapter V).

IACS will participate in the tenth session of the IMO’s Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (NCSR 10).

Some very useful general advice in how to identify counterfeit non compliant pilot ladders.