Maritime News

Pilot transfer remains a critical and high-risk operation for the maritime industry. Numerous incidents and fatalities involving seafarers and maritime pilots have occurred worldwide. The safety issues that have been identified include improper maintenance of ladders, rigging of pilot transfer arrangements and inadequate assessment of risks when boarding or disembarking from a ship. These repeated issues indicate a need for improved awareness regarding the importance of pilot transfer arrangements.

Tokyo MOU has issued a safety bulletin on maintenance and rigging of pilot transfer arrangements.

Marine pilots routinely face high-risk transfers between moving ships and small boats, often in challenging conditions. A single failure in equipment or procedure can result in severe injury or loss of life.

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO), through MSC.1/Circ.1331/Rev.1, has revised the following: Guidelines for the Construction, Installation, Maintenance and Inspection/Survey of Means of Embarkation and Disembarkation to bring them in line with the latest international standards and introduce clearer definitions and safety practices.

The United Kingdom Maritime Pilots’ Association (UKMPA) has launched an interactive online tool to improve compliance with the revised SOLAS Regulation V/23. The visual poster guides all stakeholders in Pilot Transfer Arrangements (PTAs), promoting safer boarding across the global fleet.