139 - Best Practice - Pilot Ladders -
1. Risk Assessment & Job scope for Rigging & Boarding should be prepared.
2. Tool Box meeting to held & crew involved to be briefed properly & advise of Proper PPE.
3. Communication should be clear in all the parties involved.
4. Frequently Inspected for any Sort of Damages & Rectified as soon as possible before the next use.
5. Construction of the Pilot Ladder should Comply with the SOLAS regulation & IMO Resolution.
6. Ropes, Steps , Spreaders should be all in good order.
7. When Rigging the Pilot Ladder, it should be made sure it is tied to strong points on deck & steps are horizontal & resting on the parallel length of the shipside
8. All the Trip hazards to be removed.
9. Extra Lifebuoy with light & Line should be standby at the location.
10.Extra Heaving line to be kept as well to heave the bag as required.
11.Landing area & passage way to be painted with Non Skid paint.
12.Ship side & deck area to be properly illuminated incase of dark hours.
13.All involved should wear working vests/Life jackets.
14.Extra lifejacket & Harness to be kept ready at the location & passed on to the personnel boarding incase required. Fall Arrestor Blocks to be used if available.
15.Proper Lee should be provided to the boat
16.Length of the Pilot ladder to be adjusted so it does not get entangled between the boat & the vessel.
17.Combination ladder to be rigged if freeboard is more 9 mtrs or more or as requested by the pilot, Ladder to be secured against the shipside during the rigging of Combination, Ship side to be properly marked for freeboard where combination ladder to be rigged.
18.Only one person is allowed on ladder at one time.
19.Stanchions should be secured properly.
20.Manropes if used condition should be checked & secured properly, making sure not entangling in the ladder.
21.The Person being transferred should not carry any bag or items with him, they can be transferred separately.
22.Important thing is confirm with person who is boarding with the ladder if he is fit & confident to board.
23.Entire Operation should be supervised by a qualified officer on deck with clear communications of all actions to the bridge.
24.The Person should not be rushed to board the ladder & also he should be able to refuse before boarding if he feels the situation is not safe & he does not feel comfortable & such refusals should be applauded by company, if any.
INDUSTRY BEST PRACTISE - PILOT LADDERS
BY K LINE UK (MR SHOJI AKIRA / SUKHJEET DHALIWAL)