PILOT LADDER
INTRODUCTION
The pilot ladder is a kind of rope ladder that is used merchant vessels for the
embarkation and disembarkation of nautical pilots. It is one of the very first things that
the pilot will notice about the crew and the master on board - an extremely significant
consideration for the ship's crew.
INSPECTION
Pilot ladders must be frequently checked for damage to the steps, missing wedges, and
wear and tear on the side ropes. The stairs should always be kept spotless and free of
grease and oil.
The distance between each step and the side ropes should be regular, as should the
spacing between each step.
Always keep your steps horizontal. Any flawed procedures ought to be changed right
away.
Manila rope is used to make the side ropes. Below the first step of the pilot ladder, they
should be uninterrupted and free of ties and joints. The side ropes and the shackles
used to secure the pilot ladder should be of equivalent strength and longevity.
RIGGING
The entire distance from the point of access to the water level should be covered by a
pilot ladder. Depending on the height of the pilot vessel, either port control or the pilot
himself will tell the bridge of the height above water.
The top piece or head of the pilot ladders should be secured at the vessel's
strongest point.
The pilot ladder should be positioned and fastened so that it is clear of any
discharges from the ship, parallel to the ship's body length, and as close to the
ship's half-length (midship) as possible.
All steps of the pilot ladder should be securely fastened to the ship's side. Special
measures must be taken for safe embarkation and disembarkation on specific
ships where constructional elements such as fenders or rubbing bands impede
the adoption of the foregoing safety precautions.
If requested, two-man ropes with diameters ranging from 28 mm to 32 mm and
made of manila rope or another material that provides a solid grip for climbing the
ladder should be connected along the side of the pilot ladder.
The whole length of the pilot ladder, point access, and egress should be
adequately lighted at night. A self-igniting life buoy and a heaving rope should be
kept on hand. If necessary, hand grip stanchions and a bulwark ladder should be
used.
A combination ladder should be used if the point of entry from sea level is more
than 9 meters. A combination ladder is a mixture of the pilot ladder and the
accommodation ladder. This is a popular configuration aboard vessels with a lot
of freeboard. The accommodation ladder is designed to lead aft of the vessel
with a slope angle of no more than 55 degrees.
Summary
A pilot ladder is a highly specialized type of rope ladder that is typically used on cargo
ships to embark and disembark pilots. The design and construction of ladders are
strictly regulated by international law under the SOLAS regime. Parts of a pilot ladder
consist of rubber steps (the last four steps), wood steps, a spreader (preventer step), a
step fixing piece, and rope. To use the pilot ladder, it must be rigged adjacent to the
accommodation ladder's lower platform and extend at least 2 meters above the lower
platform. The pilot ladder must be securely fastened to the side of the ship 1.5 meters
above the accommodation platform.
The distance between the two steps of the pilot ladder must be between 31cms and
35cms. If we need the pilot ladder to be about 2 meters above the water level, it will
have about 6-7 steps. The use of Manila rope in pilot ladders is one of the requirements
for pilot ladders. This requirement is there for a reason. Manila rope has an absorbing
quality that keeps the rope from slipping. As a result, it is the first choice for applications
such as stage rigging and the construction of pilot ladders.
Storage, maintenance, and repair
When the pilotage operation is completed, the pilot ladder should be secured rather
than left hanging on the ship's side. The pilot ladders should be stored in a dry, well-
ventilated area, away from the deck, and with a cover to protect them from sunlight,
chemical, and paint spills.
It should be noted that pilot ladders are only used for personnel embarkation and
disembarkation. It should never be used for anything else, such as draught reading or
other maintenance work. Pilot ladders should be properly maintained and stowed to
ensure safe, convenient, and unobstructed passage during pilot transfers. More
information on pilot ladder construction and specifications can be found in SOLAS
chapter V, under the regulation safety of navigation.
Boarding
Pilots board ships to ensure that ships arrive and depart from ports safely. Every year,
we hear about traumatic incidents in which pilots are injured or killed while boarding and
disembarking vessels. Poorly designed access arrangements or inadequately rigged
equipment on board ships cause a high proportion of pilot accidents.
As a result, it is critical that the embarkation/disembarkation of pilots be closely
monitored by a responsible officer to ensure that SOLAS and SOLAS VGM
requirements are met.
In most cases, pilot boarding arrangements consist of a pilot ladder and, in the case of
excessive freeboard (greater than 9 m), a combination ladder (a combination of the pilot
ladder and accommodation ladder). The pilot usually boards on the ship's lee side. As a
result, the pilot ladder and accommodation ladder should be accessible from either side
of the ship.
Gather the necessary information, such as the pilot's VHF channel, ground
position, and other services. This information can be obtained from the specific
port's Nautical Publication NP 286 ALRS (Admiralty list of radio signals) or from
guide port entry. The local Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) also provides this
information.
Keep an eye on the VHF channel used by the pilot. This is primarily a dedicated
channel distinct from those used by port control and the Vessel traffic scheme
(VTS).
Calculate the ETA (estimated time of arrival) to the pilot boarding ground,
observe the prevailing weather conditions, and report the same to the master.
Contact the Pilot on the VFH channel and provide information such as ETA to
pilot ground, vessel draught and freeboard, vessel length, type of propeller,
vessel current speed over ground, course made good, and so on.
Request and receive information such as berthing prospectus, side pilot ladder to
be rigged, pilot ladder height from water level, speed and course to be
maintained, and report all received data to the master.
Maintain proper communication between the pilot vessel and the own ship while
monitoring the pilot vessel. The officer in charge should be present near the point
of access when the pilot boards or disembarks. The pilot on board and the time
of disembarkation should be noted and recorded.
References:
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standards
