STEP CHANGE FOR SAFETY GLOBAL SHARING SEP 2013 - PILOT LADDERS | Page 11

Marine Safety Forum – Safety Flash 11-29
Issued: 4th August 2011 Subject: PILOT LADDER INCIDENT IN ABERDEEN BAY
Introduction A recent incident occurred on a Platform Supply Vessel where the pilot ladder on the starboard side parted whilst the pilot was attempting to board the vessel by means of this ladder. This resulted in the pilot falling backwards approximately 2 metres onto the deck of the pilot boat where he was caught by the pilot boat deckhand. The pilot suffered whiplash injuries and the pilot boat deckhand suffered slight injuries to his neck and lower back. However, there was a high potential that this incident could have resulted in more serious injury to the pilot and pilot boat deckhand, including the possibility of fatalities. Incident Whilst the PSV was underway in Aberdeen Bay proceeding at approximately 5 knots in a South Westerly direction towards the entrance to the harbour, the two on duty ABs deployed the starboard pilot ladder over the vessel’s side at a height of 1.5m above the water line. The vessel then altered course by two points to starboard to create a lee for the pilot boat and the pilot boat came alongside the vessel’s starboard side. The pilot then attempted to board the vessel by means of the pilot ladder but when one foot was on the bottom of the ladder and whilst attempting to place his other foot on the ladder, the ladder parted causing the pilot to fall backwards onto the pilot boat where he was caught by the pilot boat deckhand. Although a pilot ladder is always used for boarding a pilot, the shipboard personnel had not changed out this pilot ladder which had previously been reported as defective by one of the Aberdeen pilots and therefore this ladder remained in use for boarding the pilot. Investigation Findings The investigation of this incident revealed many findings including the following:? ? ? ? ? The pilot ladder was in poor condition and the pilot ladder ropes were worn by contact with the sheerstrake. There were no measures in place to reduce the effect of the sharp edge of the vessel’s sheerstrake on the pilot ladder ropes. The wear on the pilot ladder ropes from contact with the sheerstrake was not considered as the company risk assessment process was not effectively implemented on board. Experience Transfer highlighting the potential hazard from the deployment of a pilot ladder over the sheerstrake was not yet issued to the fleet. The pilot ladder was stowed on the open deck by the pilot boarding station and was not covered and suffered deterioration from the weather. -1-