Interactive Pilot Transfer Arrangements

PILOT LADDER AND MAN-ROPES

Shall be secured to strong points on deck.

SPREADER

Min. 180cm long.

MAXIMUM 8 STEPS

Minimum 180cm Long.

5th STEP

From bottom shall be a spreader.

HEIGHT

As required by Pilot.

ACCOMMODATION LADDER

The accommodation ladder Shall lead aft.

The accommodation ladder and platform shall be equipped on both sides with stanchions and rigid handrails, but if hand ropes are used, they shall be tight and properly secured. The vertical space between the handrail or hand rope and the stringers of the ladder shall be securely fenced.

FORCES

The accommodation ladder platform, frame, pilot ladder connection points, accommodation ladder winch, running gear, pad eyes of manropes and locking arrangements shall be designed to withstand vertical forces of at least 48 kN.

INTERMEDIATE PLATFORMS

Intermediate platforms, if fitted, shall be self-levelling. Treads and steps of the accommodation ladder shall be so designed that an adequate and safe anti-skid foothold is given at the operative angles.

LOWER PLATFORM

The lower platform shall be rigged as requested by the pilot service, with a minimum height of 5m above the water and a maximum height of 9m above the water.

The lower platform should be horizontal and shall be rigged with both inboard and outboard stanchions.

FREEBOARD MARK

On all ships to which section 5 applies, a two-tone visual mark, the upper half being white and the lower half being red, not less than 4 m in height and 0.5 m in width shall be provided in the midship half-length of the ship in the vicinity of the pilot boarding position to indicate to the user whether or not a combination arrangement should be rigged. The dividing line between the upper and the lower halves of the pilot line shall be 9 m below the point access.

PILOT LADDER WINCH REELS

Pilot ladder winch reels which are fitted on a ship’s upper deck for the purpose of providing a pilot ladder which services a ship’s side opening below the upper deck or, alternatively, an accommodation ladder when a combination arrangement is provided shall:

1. be situated at a location on the upper deck from which the pilot ladder is able to be suspended vertically, in a straight line, to a point adjacent to the ship’s side opening access point or the lower platform of the accommodation ladder;

2. be situated at a location which provides a safe, convenient and unobstructed passage for any pilot or personnel embarking on, or disembarking from, the ship between the pilot ladder and the place of access on the ship.

MECHANICAL SECURING OF WINCH REEL

Mechanical securing of pilot ladder winch reel shall:

1. All pilot ladder winch reels shall have means of preventing the winch reel from being accidentally operated as a result of mechanical failure or human error.

2. Pilot ladder winch reels may be manually operated or, alternatively, powered by either electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic means.

3. Manually operated pilot ladder winch reels shall be provided with a brake or other suitable arrangements to control the lowering of the pilot ladder and to lock the winch reel in position once the pilot ladder is lowered into position.

4. Electrical, hydraulic or pneumatically driven pilot ladder winch reels shall be fitted with safety devices which are capable of cutting off the power supply to the winch reel and thus locking the winch reel in position.

5. Powered winch reels shall have clearly marked control levers or handles which may be locked in a neutral position.

6. A mechanical device or locking pin shall also be utilized to lock powered winch reels.

WINCH REEL FITTINGS

Pilot ladder winch reels fitted inside a ship’s side opening shall:

1. be situated at a position which provides a safe, convenient and unobstructed passage for any pilot or personnel embarking on, or disembarking from, the ship between the pilot ladder and the place of access on the ship;

2. be situated at a position which provides an unobstructed clear area with a minimum length of 915 mm and minimum width of 915 mm and minimum vertical height of 2,200 mm; and

3. if situated at a position which necessitates a section of the pilot ladder to be partially secured in a horizontal position on the deck so as to provide a clear access as described above, then allowance shall be made so that this section of the pilot ladder may be covered with a rigid platform for a minimum distance of 915 mm measured horizontally from the ship’s side inwards.

STRONG POINT

The pilot ladder shall be rigged to a strong point, independent of the pilot ladder winch reel.

SHARP EDGES

Ladders shall not be rigged over sharp edges which can damage the ropes.

A rounded surface such as a pipe should be place on the edge to minimise the risk of chafing.

HANDHOLD STANCHIONS

Shall extend 120cm above deck.

Min. diameter 32mm

Max. diameter 36mm

Distance between stanchions:

Min. 700mm

Max. 800mm

SIDE OPENING

Ship’s side doors used for the transfer of pilots or other personnel shall not open outwards unless located below the freeboard deck.8 The side opening shall enable a safe, convenient and unobstructed passage large enough for the transfer of pilots and other personnel, with a minimum clearance of 2,200 mm in height and 915 mm in width.

BOARDING PLATFORM

Boarding platforms deployed from ship’s side openings and outboard of the ship in any event shall not be provided where the distance from the platform to the surface of the water in allseagoing conditions of draught and trim associated with the normal operation of the ship is less than 5 m. Platforms shall be mechanically attached to the ship and be marked with safe working load limits. Certification of successful testing shall be maintained on board and available for inspection.

The boarding platform shall extend outboard from the ship’s side for a minimum distance of 750 mm, with a longitudinal length of a minimum of 750 mm. The platform shall be securely guarded by handrails.