Ever since I had one of my favorite port calls down under. I’ve been paying much closer attention to pilot ladder arrangements and setups across different ships. Australia was the only place I’ve been where manropes and pilot ladder certification were actually scrutinized. Now that I’m on a new vessel, this has become a priority for me, especially with the regulatory direction heading towards expanded documentation and equipment traceability under the upcoming 2028 SOLAS V/23 amendments (pilot ladders, spare sets, intermediate securing arrangements, etc.).Now the pilot ladder is a consumable item and only good for 36 months.
Of course, the CFRs are behind the times.
Our vessel uses a side-port boarding arrangement, and I’m interested in hearing how others are handling:
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Manrope rigging and crew familiarity
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Ladder certification and documentation tracking
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Spare ladder staging
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Intermediate securing arrangements
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Any lessons from PSC, class, or pilot authority feedback
I appreciate any insight, particularly from those who’ve recently upgraded equipment or procedures. If you can send some photos of your pot sideboard setup, just like a cruise ship, that would be great.