Substandard pilot ladders still an issue, says MAIB

MAIB is responsible for investigating marine accidents in UK waters and those involving UK vessels globally. The Branch asked for all incidents of unsafe pilot ladders be reported, regardless of how minor, to get a fuller picture of an issue which is regularly reported and has been for many years.

“In 2021, the branch received 194 reports about sub-standard pilot ladders. Of those, 172 pilot ladders (88.6%) were not rigged in compliance with SOLAS guidance, and 22 were observed by the pilot as being in a materially poor condition. Fortunately, serious accidents have been rare, but the potential clearly exists and the branch will continue to collate statistics in 2022.”

MAIB similarly called for more details of incidents involving dangerously weighted heaving lines, but received just 16 such reports. The number of reports did not reflect anecdotal reports, said MAIB, which could suggest continued under-reporting of a very dangerous hazard.

“The MAIB received no reports of fatal accidents to seafarers on UK registered merchant vessels of 100gt or more during the year but did commence investigations into fatalities on two Red Ensign Group vessels and one fatality on a Cyprus registered vessel operating in UK waters,” said Captain Andrew Moll OBE, Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents.

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“From these investigations two themes emerge: the first is that mooring deck fatalities as a result of snap-back continue to occur, despite well published guidance on the hazard; the second is that marshalling vehicles on roll-on/roll-of vessels remains extremely hazardous.