Page 13 - CHIRP Annual Digest 2017

CHIRP Annual Digest 2017

minimum ballast on a light draft and the possible impact on Article. 04
the positioning of the pilot access points.
Pilot ladder boarding
It was also mentioned that this report highlights failings arrangements
within the actual design and approval Quality Assurance pro-
cess by the yard, Class and Flag State. In this respect, the
International Marine Pilots Association, (IMPA), gives Guid- OUTLINE: CHIRP continues to receive many reports
ance For Naval Architects which is a useful resource to help relating to pilot ladder boarding arrangements which are
ensure that this type of incident does not occur. non-compliant with SOLAS. The following is a selection of
some the issues reported.
What the reporter told us (2)
Upon boarding a vessel to pilot her to the berth, the follow- What the Reporter told us (1):
ing defects on the pilot ladder arrangement were noted; Manropes were secured to handrails rather than strong
• The man ropes had eye splices in the lower ends. points on deck as required by SOLAS. This ship may well be
• The lower spreader of the pilot ladder was bowed. in compliance as built, but looking at the rails I would not be
• Several steps were loose. happy for them to be protecting me from plummeting to my
death. They were quite bent out of shape.
It was additionally noted that the command of English on the
bridge of this vessel was very poor, so effectively describing
the problems that had been noted was extremely difficult.
CHIRP Comment
Having discussed this report the Maritime Advisory Board
agreed that the description of the ladder made it extremely
hazardous and that it did not comply with SOLAS V Regula-
tion 23, a section of which is shown below.

2. General
2.1 All arrangements used for pilot transfer shall effi-
ciently fulfil their purpose of enabling pilots to embark and
disembark safely. The appliances shall be kept clean, prop-
erly maintained and stowed and shall be regularly inspected
to ensure that they are safe to use. They shall be used solely Non-compliant arrangement – manrope is not secured to a
for the embarkation and disembarkation of personnel. strong point
2.2 The rigging of the pilot transfer arrangements and What the Reporter told us (2):
the embarkation of a pilot shall be supervised by a respon- This vessel has an unusual arrangement for securing
sible officer having means of communication with the the manropes, using a lug on the side of the non-stand-
navigation bridge who shall also arrange for the escort of ard stanchions. As the manropes were only held by a
the pilot by a safe route to and from the navigation bridge. half-hitch, they could possibly come free in certain circum-
Personnel engaged in rigging and operating any mechani- stances. These lugs were very low rather than at the top of
cal equipment shall be instructed in the safe procedures to stanchions. This arrangement required the pilot to descend
be adopted and the equipment shall be tested prior to use. the ladder a few steps before being able to get hold of
the manropes.
In addition, the Board commented that from the descrip-
tion given, the man ropes would appear to have been rigged I pointed out to the master that this arrangement was not
upside down. If so, this raises the question of who is checking compliant, but appreciated that he had inherited this. Simply
the safe rigging of the pilot ladder before use? The regulations fitting a loop at the top would make them compliant.
are clear, and any contravention simply endangers life.
CHIRP Comment
It should be noted that all references in these two reports, SOLAS V/23 7.1.1 specifies manrope requirements as
SOLAS V Regulation 23, IMO Resolution A.1045(27), Guidance follows. “Two man-ropes of not less than 28 mm and not
For Naval Architects, and IMPA Boarding Arrangements are avail- more than 32 mm in diameter properly secured to the ship
able on the CHIRP Maritime website on the Publications page. if required by the pilot; man-ropes shall be fixed at the rope
end to the ring plate fixed on deck and shall be ready for
It is also appropriate to remind readers that such contraven- use when the pilot disembarks, or upon request from a pilot
tions should be reported as soon as possible to Port State approaching to board (the manropes shall reach the height
inspectors to enable appropriate action to be taken. The of the stanchions or bulwarks at the point of access to the
United Kingdom Marine Pilots Association, (UKMPA), have a deck before terminating at the ring plate on deck” The cor-
facility on their web site to report non-compliance. This may rect arrangements, including the critical point of transfer from
be adapted for use by anyone. the ladder to deck are fully described in the IMPA – Boarding
Arrangements Poster
The above article was published in MFB48

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