UK P and I Club

Despite previous regulatory measures, accidents and fatalities continue to occur due to non-compliant arrangements, poor maintenance, or incorrect rigging of pilot ladders. Recent findings underline the scale of the problem:

- Based on the safety campaign conducted by the International Maritime Pilots’ Association (IMPA) in May-2025, nearly 14% of transfer arrangements are reported to be non-compliant, with pilot ladders emerging as the most frequent concern.

- According to the latest Safety Bulletin published by Tokyo MOU, deficiencies related to pilot transfer arrangements increased from 197 in 2020 to 523 in 2024, with detentions rising from 1 to 12 in the same period. Common issues include improper securing of ladders, defective steps or ropes, and misuse of accommodation ladders.

https://www.ukpandi.com/news-and-resources/news/article/enhancing-the-safety-of-pilot-transfer-arrangements/