Your Pilot Ladder as Your Ship's Doormat
Your pilot ladder is your ships doormat at sea just like your ships gangway is your ships doormat in port. Provide a safe, high quality pilot ladder and you are rolling out the red carpet to your pilot. Rig a bad one and it’s akin to a threadbare, flea infested rug that nobody would wipe their feet on.
As a maritime pilot that has conducted thousands of boardings and landings I can tell a lot before I even get to the vessel. The way in which the ship communicates (not their grasp of English) says a lot. Are they communicating in a closed loop fashion where instructions are repeated back to indicate they have been received and understood? Do they seem to be in the right position, at the correct time, steering the instructed course and at the right speed? If not why not? Given the masses of navigational data at the bridge teams fingertips these requirements shouldn’t be complex.
Finally upon arrival at the ship I get to see the ship’s doormat, their pilot ladder. Just like arriving at a person’s home and seeing their doormat is a great way to judge what lies beyond the front door the pilot ladder is just that to a pilot. A good quality, well rigged, safe, compliant ladder isn’t that common so when you do see one it makes you sit up and take notice.
It gives me a layer of comfort knowing that if the ship has got this right chances are the ship is well run and will be a pleasure to pilot. I arrive at the bridge already impressed and ready for my first steaming hot mug of coffee, or pilot fuel as we call it.
On the other hand, turning up and finding a dangerous, non-compliant pilot ladder is like a massive sign saying ‘WE REALLY DON’T CARE ABOUT YOU’. It puts me in a defensive frame of mind. If the ship can’t receive a pilot ladder, what else can’t they do? It makes me challenge everything, plus the need to communicate the problems via VHF get them rectified and sit there while this is done gives a bad start to the job.
If when I arrive at the bridge the first things I need to discuss with the Captain is their non-compliant pilot ladder arrangement gets everyone off to the wrong start. I don’t blame or take issue with the vessel; I know all too well that the complete lack of training in the area of pilot ladders is the issue. There are maybe 5 times in over 8000 boardings and landings where I can absolutely say the crew wilfully rigged a dangerous ladder. On all other occasions it was down to a lack of education and knowledge.
However it still makes the master pilot exchange a more awkward conversation it can cause the master to become defensive and reserved, it is a reportable problem in my port as it is in many districts and is likely to lead to a Port State Control inspection and if the problems are too serious it can mean the pilot refuses to board.
Ports Take A Strong Line On Dangerous Pilot Ladders
Ports have started to take an extremely strong line toward dangerous pilot ladders and some ports have now insisted on dictating they only accept ladders from certain manufacturers and these must be under 24 months old.
Chances are you rig a dangerous ladder it will cause the vessel a whole world of problems they really didn’t need. When a PSC pays a visit to examine your non-compliant ladder chances are they won't stop there. As can be seen in this video UK Port State Control Inspectors Take A Strong Line On Non Compliant Pilot Ladders. A vessel that presents with a dangerous pilot ladder is soon detained with a catalogue of deficiencies! And the UK's Maritime & Coastguard Agency are not alone with the likes of AMSA and Maritime New Zeeland taking equily hard stances.
Thankfully compliance isn’t difficult, our pilot ladder training course is the most comprehensive on the market. It covers every boarding type and also caters for pilots, surveyors, agents, field technicians and even pilot boat and transfer vessel coxswains with our cafefully curated pilot ladder courses.
Our pilot ladder management service goes one step further in providing the training, the ladders, the inspection regime, a 24 hour helpline and fantastic bespoke software that gives vessel managers and TSO’s total visibility whilst allowing them to be completely hands off! We sort everything, even liaising with the vessel to ensure there is a ladder awaiting their arrival in port when it’s needed!
The best thing is that through our close partnership with PTR Holland and our expertise in this area we save our clients THOUSANDS of dollars a year in expensive pilot ladder mistakes. Plus we always guarantee to be cheaper than the Chandler!
So remember the next time the crew lower that pilot ladder over the side, it’s your vessels doormat! Make sure it says WELCOME in HUGE letters!
