Incidents & Investigations

Pilot Ladder Accident

Agha Umar Habib

This is a first hand account by a pilot at the port of Sohar, of what it is like when a pilot ladder being climbed, breaks. The article has been kindly reprinted from a post in Linkedin. (Ed).

One never appreciates life unless one encounters death!

My fall in the water on July 23 th , 2019 was an event which re-affirmed my faith in God. The accident was something I had to encounter due to someone else’s negligence. I was gratified to my God for not inflicting any mental or bodily harm to me.

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Compliant Pilot Ladder Lengths: Kevin Vallance

ladder 1

There are many things in both our everyday and professional lives we take for granted and never question the origins of. An example of this might be the IMPA recommended ‘pilot mark or pilot line’, sometimes seen on the side of vessels to indicate where a vessel’s freeboard exceeds nine metres. Read the rest of this entry »

Commendation: Tristan Gurd, Falmouth Pilot by Mike Robarts

kuzmin-768x463

M.V Kuzma Minin: Image Courtesy: Falmouth Coastguard Rescue Team

The Chairman in his report noted the brave efforts of Pilot Tristan Gurd in the rescue of the vessel M.V Kuzma Minin and her crew.

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CHIRP (Confidential Hazardous Information Reporting) reports

Members may wish to familiarise themselves with the following incidents which could or did happen in pilotage waters. Read the rest of this entry »

Narrow Channels: Clyde & Co LLP

Ever collision

Photo: maritimee-executive.com

In a decision handed down on 13 March 2017, the Admiralty Court agreed with Alexandra 1 interests on the application of rule 9 of the Collision Regulations (Colregs) – the narrow channel rule. Read the rest of this entry »

Houston Pilots (USA) earn IMO’s award for exceptional bravery at sea: Clayton L. Diamond

Houston

Photo: gCaptain website

Pilots around the world are counted on twenty four hours a day, three hundred and sixty five days a year to use their skills, in-depth local knowledge and informed independent judgment to safely move all manner of ships through winding, narrow and crowded waterways, often in adverse weather conditions. This is what pilots do – make an extremely challenging and dangerous job look routine. Read the rest of this entry »

BANK REJECTION

Photos : MAIB

It would appear that my Royston Grange article in the October 2011 issue was published just too late to avoid an almost identical collision scenario which features in the latest MAIB digest! Read the rest of this entry »

Pilot Ladders: An Old Rust Bucket?

 

 

No. This is the USS Howard,s Pilot ladder!

Recently, the Los Angeles Jacobsen pilot assigned to the USS Howard, a guided missile destroyer stationed in San Diego, experienced the surprise of his life. Read the rest of this entry »

Dangers of Pilotage Deregulation: The “Godafoss”

 

For years there has been a campaign by ship owners’ lobbyists to deregulate pilotage and extend PEC useage. Read the rest of this entry »

The ROYSTON GRANGE Tragedy

 

ROYSTON GRANGE MEMORIAL SERVICE

The Royston Grange memorial group have arranged a 50th anniversary memorial service  to be held at

All Hallows By The Tower Church London

on 11th May at 2pm.

Anyone wishing to attend should contact the group via the FaceBook  page here

Peter McArthur’s article on ship hydrodynamics reminded me of the Royston Grange tragedy on the River Plate in 1972 which was most likely caused by a combination of bank rejection, interaction and a poorly maintained channel. Read the rest of this entry »

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