Technical & Training Committee Report October 2009

December 23rd, 2009 by JCB
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IMO Nav 55: Pilot Transfer Arrangements.

Background

During Nav 45 in the summer of 1996 there was an attempt to remove pilot boarding arrangements from SOLAS V Regulation 17 and downgrade it to a code. This was reversed and it was re-inserted in Regulation 23 and strengthened by Resolution A889. During Nav 55 we further strengthened the boarding arrangements and I believe our gains will save lives and reduce injury.

I would like to put on record my following observation:

The lobbying effect that IMPA had was amazing, the way that the brotherhood of international pilots came together was not matched by any other organisation, group or delegation.  The importance of having so many pilots on so many country delegations acting in a discrete and professional way was very apparent and can’t be overstressed. Additionally the advance work done by the steering group, guided by IMPA paid off. It was a pleasure and an honour to work with this group.

Anyone who is still questioning the value of IMPA membership needs their head examined!

Unfortunately incidents are still happening. During the Nav 55 session a French pilot was seriously injured when a BRAND NEW ladder parted at deck level and he and the remains of the ladder fell 8 meters into the water between the ship’s hull & pilot cutter. Approximately 3 months ago an Italian pilot suffered injuries when he fell from a ladder when he was attempting to board via the pilot ladder and side door, and earlier in the year a Turkish pilot died when a ladder broke and he fell into the sea.

Achievement

Nav 55 was a success and the proposed amendments to both the regulation and resolution that we drafted have now been forwarded to the IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) 87 and will be adopted at MSC 88.

While the process of approval and adoption by MSC may be seen as longwinded and bureaucratic, these are necessary for legal and other reasons. An attempt was made to bypass the process by the Cook Islands which failed. However, after discussion at the Plenary as to the importance of improving arrangements urgently and bring into force the new draft wording, the Secretariat informed Plenary that an IMO circular could be promulgated, referring to the proposed changes and asking each administration to act accordingly in advance. Therefore this is happening!

One further major achievement which was clarified is as follows:

The inspection of Pilot transfer arrangements come under SOLAS 1.

SOLAS 1, Regulation 8, surveying of lifesaving appliances and other equipment of cargo ships, (8(b), (i), (ii) and (iii) provide for the survey and inspection of various life-saving and other equipment, including “means of embarking pilots” to ensure that they comply with the requirements of the present regulations, are in satisfactory condition and are fit for the service for which the ship is intended.

The above is very important, it requires that pilot ladders are surveyed and inspected at the above survey and periodically at port state inspections. The MCA are now aware of this and I & the T&TC will be assisting them in this duty. This is a verbal request from Paul Townsend / Keith Tatman (MCA) and I am working in formalising it.

I will outline the main changes and try and explain below:

SOLAS 23/23

• All equipment must comply with the regulation and standards adopted by IMO (ISO 700)
• The prohibition of mechanical hoists. This may say “Shall not be used” to avoid a major expense of removing the equipment by just moth balling it.
• The securing of accommodation ladder, pilot ladder and manropes (if required) to the ship’s side, 1.5m above the platform.
• The securing of the accommodation ladder to the ship’s side to avoid it coming off the hull.
• Certification by manufactures of pilot ladders.
• Permanent identification (tag) marks on a pilot ladder.
• Records to be kept on a ship as to the date the identified ladder is placed into service and repairs effected.
• Changes to the maximum angle the accommodation ladder makes with the hull (changed from 55 to 45%) and to the minimum height above sea level now specified at 5 meters.
• Accommodation ladder lower platforms which have an entry hatch (trap door or man hole) are to be renamed “Embarkation platforms” and the pilot ladder and manropes (if required) extend through the platform to the height of the upper hand rail.
• Side doors shall not open outwards.
• Manropes (if required) to extend to the height of the stanchion or bulwarks at the point of access to the deck.

Resolution A889 (Which will be renumbered when endorsed)

• Tripping lines, when used, to be secured at or above the lower spreader, lead forward and not hinder the pilot or obstruct the safe approach of the pilot boat.
• Side ropes of the pilot ladder shall have a minimum breaking strain when new of 24 KiloNewtons ( 2.447 tonnes per rope part = 9.789 Tonnes in total).
• Spacing tolerance to be reduced and permanent markings to assist in length of ladder paid out to be visible. (Both these are measures to assist in getting the height above pilot boat deck level correct to avoid pilot boats hanging up or damaging a ladder.)
• Side ropes to be of one continuous rope with the midpoint being located at a thimble at the top of the ladder large enough to accommodate at least 2 turns of a securing rope.
• Side ropes to be secured together above and below the ladder rungs with a mechanical clamping device which is properly designed for the purpose or a seizing method. Step fixings (Chocks or widgets) to hold the rungs level must be used and clamped.
• Hand holds rigidly secured to the ship’s structure at or near the point of access to be provided.
• Arrangement for the safe approach of pilot cutters are to be provided where “Rubbing bands” or “Sponsons” are part of the ship’s structure. These shall be cut away to provide at least 6 meters of unobstructed ship’s side.  (There are some exemptions to this rule, mainly for small offshore type vessels, which have safety zones,)
• A complete new section on ladder reels will be in the resolution.

Brian Wilson. Chairman