Start hereRules checked 20 October 2026
A pilot climbs a rope ladder up the vertical side of a moving ship, at night, in a swell, from a boat that rises and falls under them. If a side rope parts, a step turns, or the ladder is not secured to proper strong points, the fall is into the water or onto the pilot boat. Australia’s maritime safety authority notes that numerous incidents and fatalities involving seafarers and pilots have occurred worldwide.
The pilots’ own data show how common the problems are. In the International Maritime Pilots’ Association (IMPA) 2026 safety campaign, 13% of 4,051 pilot transfers reported were non-compliant, pilot ladders were the leading source of non-compliance, and 35% of the non-compliant reports involved ladders not secured to strong points. IMO has responded with a new, mandatory performance standard that enters into force on 1 January 2028 and applies to every pilot ladder at sea, whatever its age.
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In this lesson
- Pre-arrival check at the pilot station, March 2028
- In plain words
- In detail
- What the rules say
- Flag and class notes
- Key numbers
- What inspectors find
- Quiz: 6 questions
Try it
Pre-arrival check at the pilot station, March 2028
In plain words
A pilot transfer arrangement is everything the pilot uses to get from the pilot boat to the deck: the pilot ladder, the manropes, the strong points it is tied to, any accommodation ladder used with it, the deck access (handholds, stanchions, bulwark ladder or side door), lighting and a lifebuoy.
Today the rules are SOLAS regulation V/23 and IMO Assembly resolution A.1045(27) (as amended by A.1108(29)), with the ISO 799 standard for ladder construction. From 1 January 2028 a new SOLAS V/23 makes a detailed IMO performance standard, MSC.576(110), mandatory. Three changes matter most for every ship:
- Pilot ladders have a fixed life. Every ladder and set of manropes, including spares, must be withdrawn 36 months after manufacture or 30 months after it went into service, whichever comes first.
- Inspections are fixed too. Before and after every use, and a detailed inspection every three months, by a responsible officer, with a maintenance plan and log.
- Older installations must be upgraded. Strong points, winch reels, deck access and combination arrangements installed before 2028 must meet the new design rules by the first survey on or after 1 January 2029.
In detail
What applies today (until 31 December 2027)
The current SOLAS V/23, supported by the recommendation in A.1045(27) as amended by A.1108(29), requires pilot transfer arrangements for ships on which pilots may be employed, prohibits mechanical pilot hoists, and asks for a combination arrangement when the climb exceeds 9 m. Key A.1045(27) ladder dimensions:
- steps at least 400 mm between side ropes, 115 mm wide and 25 mm deep, equally spaced 310 to 350 mm;
- spreader steps at least 1.8 m long, the lowest the fifth step from the bottom, no more than nine steps between spreaders;
- side ropes uncovered, at least 18 mm diameter, continuous with no joints, at least 24 kN breaking strength each;
- no more than two replacement steps secured by a different method, to be replaced by original-method steps as soon as practicable;
- strong points, shackles and securing ropes at least as strong as the side ropes.
IMO poster MSC.1/Circ.1428, Required boarding arrangements for pilots, illustrates the arrangements and is commonly displayed near the boarding station. A revised version, MSC.1/Circ.1428/Rev.1, has been issued; check with your flag which version it expects on board and from when.
What changes on 1 January 2028
| SOLAS V/23 as amended by MSC.572(110) | What it means |
|---|---|
| Para. 3 | Arrangements installed on or after 1 January 2028 meet the introduction and parts A (design), B (rigging) and C (winch reels) of MSC.576(110) |
| Para. 4 | Arrangements installed before 2028 on ships subject to SOLAS chapter I comply with para. 3 by the first survey on or after 1 January 2029 |
| Para. 5 | Ships not subject to chapter I (for example cargo ships below 500 GT) comply by 1 January 2030 |
| Para. 6 | Inspection, stowage, maintenance, replacement and familiarisation of all arrangements, whatever their age, follow parts D and E from 1 January 2028 |
| Para. 8 and 9 | New arrangements approved under part F and inspected at statutory surveys |
| Para. 10 | Mechanical pilot hoists shall not be used |
| Para. 11 | Fixed or portable lighting of the arrangements overside and the deck position |
| Para. 12 | A pilot who suspects the arrangement is non-compliant should inform the master and refuse to use it until it is made compliant |
New entries for the pilot ladder and manropes, the spare ladder and manropes, and the means of securing a ladder at intermediate length are added to the Record of Equipment (Forms P, E and C). MSC.1/Circ.1690 encourages voluntary early implementation.
The new ladder (part A) and combination arrangements
- Height of climb 1.5 m to 9 m from the water to the point of access in all seagoing conditions; above 9 m, a combination arrangement with an accommodation ladder.
- Steps of knot-free, uncoated hardwood in one piece, or resilient plastic or rubber of equal strength; non-slip; at least 400 mm between ropes, 115 mm wide, 25 mm thick; spaced 310 to 350 mm; the four lowest of rubber or equivalent. Spreader steps at least 1.8 m long, the lowest being the fifth step.
- Measuring marks about every 1 m, and the maker’s name, serial number, date of manufacture and approving authority marked under the top step and the lowest spreader step.
- Side ropes: a double, continuous, uncovered length 20 to 22 mm in diameter, at least 24 kN, midpoint on a thimble, protected against sunlight degradation. Steps held by seizing with chocks or wedges, or a clamp gripping each rope independently; never cable ties, u-clamps or worm-driven clips.
- Strong points, shackles and securing ropes at least 48 kN, marked; securing ropes at least 3 m long.
- In a combination arrangement the accommodation ladder leads aft, its lower platform is horizontal and at least 5 m above the water, and the pilot ladder hangs 0.1 to 0.2 m from the platform, secured to the ship’s side about 1.5 m above it (never to the platform) and extending at least 2 m above it. A white-over-red mark, its dividing line 9 m below the point of access, shows the crew when a combination is needed.
Inspection, maintenance and replacement (part D)
- Periodic maintenance and inspection keep the arrangement in good condition, free from contamination and ready for use.
- Ladders, manropes and equipment are stowed away from moisture, icing, sunlight, chemicals and greases, as the maker instructs.
- Each ladder comes with the maker’s instructions: pre- and post-use checks, periodic inspection procedures, permitted onboard repairs to seizings, stowage, factors affecting ladder life, securing methods and pictures of damage warranting withdrawal.
- Inspections: before and after each use, and a detailed inspection every three months, by a responsible officer.
- A maintenance plan with a checklist, schedule, spare part sources, a log, and the date each ladder and manrope went into service with its planned withdrawal date.
- Repair or replacement of steps and spreader steps is prohibited.
- At least one spare compliant ladder and one spare set of manropes on board.
- Withdrawal at the earlier of 36 months after manufacture or 30 months after entry into service, or at any time the ladder stops complying.
Part E requires familiarisation of everyone who inspects, maintains, rigs or operates the arrangements, as part of the ship’s onboard familiarisation.
What the rules say
- SOLAS regulation V/23 as amended by resolution MSC.572(110), adopted 26 June 2025, enters into force on 1 January 2028. 1
- Amended SOLAS V/23.3 requires pilot transfer arrangements installed on or after 1 January 2028 to meet parts A, B and C of the performance standards in resolution MSC.576(110). 1
- Amended SOLAS V/23.4 and V/23.5 require arrangements installed before 2028 to comply by the first survey on or after 1 January 2029 on ships subject to chapter I, and by 1 January 2030 on other ships. 1
- Amended SOLAS V/23.6 applies parts D and E of MSC.576(110) on inspection, stowage, maintenance, replacement and familiarisation to all pilot transfer arrangements, regardless of installation date. 1
- Amended SOLAS V/23.12 says that a pilot who suspects an arrangement is non-compliant “should inform the master and refuse to use the arrangement until it is made compliant”. 1
- MSC.576(110) paragraph 3.2 limits the height of climb on a pilot ladder to between 1.5 m and 9 m and requires a combination arrangement above 9 m. 2
- MSC.576(110) paragraph 25 requires inspection before and after each use and a detailed inspection every three months by a responsible officer. 2
- MSC.576(110) paragraph 30 requires pilot ladders and manropes, including spares, to be removed from service within 36 months after manufacture or 30 months after being placed into service, whichever comes first. 2
- MSC.576(110) paragraphs 28 and 29 prohibit the repair or replacement of steps and spreader steps and require at least one spare compliant ladder and set of manropes on board. 2
- MSC.576(110) paragraph 6.1 requires strong points, shackles and securing ropes to have a breaking strength of at least 48 kN, clearly and permanently marked. 2
- Resolution A.1045(27), as amended by A.1108(29), is the current IMO recommendation until the 2028 standard takes over (MSC.576(110) invites the Assembly to revoke both resolutions as of 1 April 2030); it allows no more than two replacement steps secured by a different method and requires side ropes of at least 18 mm diameter. 2 3
Flag and class notes
- Australia (AMSA Maritime Safety Awareness Bulletin 23, March 2026) reminds masters of their obligations under SOLAS V/23 and Marine Order 54 for coastal pilotage, and reports Tokyo MOU figures of 523 deficiencies and 12 detentions for pilot transfer arrangements in 2024, and 176 deficiencies on 169 ships with 3 detentions in a February 2025 focused inspection campaign of 2,357 inspections. 4
- AMSA’s bulletin also describes an Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation in which a manila side rope parted at the sixteenth step: the rope was degraded, chlorine-contaminated and poorly stored, and the ladder did not meet the breaking strength requirement of ISO 799-1:2019. 4
- ABS lists MSC.1/Circ.1690 on voluntary early implementation and the revised poster MSC.1/Circ.1428/Rev.1 among the related texts. 5
- Check your flag’s notice on early implementation and on how it will survey existing arrangements at the first survey after 1 January 2029.
Key numbers
| What | Value |
|---|---|
| New SOLAS V/23 in force | 1 January 2028 1 |
| Existing arrangements upgraded (chapter I ships) | First survey on or after 1 January 2029 1 |
| Existing arrangements, other ships | 1 January 2030 1 |
| Height of climb | 1.5 m to 9 m; combination above 9 m 2 |
| Ladder withdrawal | 36 months from manufacture or 30 months in service, earlier applies 2 |
| Detailed inspection | Every 3 months 2 |
| Step spacing | 310 to 350 mm 2 |
| Spreader steps | At least 1.8 m; lowest is the 5th step 2 |
| Side ropes (new standard) | 20 to 22 mm, at least 24 kN 2 |
| Strong points, shackles, securing ropes | At least 48 kN 2 |
| Combination lower platform | At least 5 m above the water 2 |
| IMPA 2026 non-compliance rate | 13% of 4,051 reports 6 |
What inspectors find
- Pilot ladders not secured to strong points: 35% of non-compliant reports in the IMPA 2026 campaign. 6
- Pilot ladders as the leading source of non-compliant observations, and 89% of non-compliant observations not reported to port State authorities. 6
- Degraded side ropes from sunlight, chemicals and poor stowage. 4
- Pilot transfer deficiencies are a regular PSC item: 523 deficiencies and 12 detentions in the Tokyo MOU region in 2024. 4
FAQ
Our ladders are only two years old and in good condition. Do we have to replace them in 2028?
Only when they reach the limit: 36 months after manufacture or 30 months after going into service, whichever comes first. Many ladders bought in 2025 or earlier will hit the limit soon after 1 January 2028, so plan purchases now and record the dates.
Can the crew still replace a broken step?
Under A.1045(27) today, up to two replacement steps are allowed temporarily. From 1 January 2028 repair or replacement of steps is prohibited: the ladder must be withdrawn.
Does the new standard apply to pilot ladders on ships below 500 GT?
Yes. Ships not subject to SOLAS chapter I must bring older arrangements into compliance by 1 January 2030, and parts D and E apply to all arrangements from 2028.
Can a pilot refuse our ladder?
Yes. The amended regulation says a pilot who suspects non-compliance should inform the master and refuse to use it until it is made compliant.
Quiz6 questions
Sources
- 1
IMO Resolution MSC.572(110), Amendments to chapters II-2 and V of SOLAS (adopted 26 June 2025, in force 1 January 2028), new regulation V/23 and Record of Equipment entries. https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/MSCResolutions/MSC.572(110).pdf
- 2
IMO Resolution MSC.576(110), Performance standards for pilot transfer arrangements (adopted 26 June 2025, taking effect 1 January 2028), operative paragraph 8 and annex sections 3 to 6, 12 to 14 and 22 to 31. https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/MSCResolutions/MSC.576(110).pdf
- 3
IMO Resolution A.1045(27), Pilot transfer arrangements (adopted 30 November 2011), Annex, section 2. https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/AssemblyDocuments/A.1045(27).pdf
- 4
Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Maritime Safety Awareness Bulletin Issue 23, Pilot transfer arrangements (March 2026), case studies and inspection data. https://www.amsa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-03/Maritime-Safety-Bulletin-23-Pilot-transfer-arrangements_0.pdf
- 5
ABS, Amendments to SOLAS regulation V/23: pilot transfer arrangements, regulatory update page. https://ww2.eagle.org/en/rules-and-resources/regulatory-updates/SOLAS-Pilot-Transfer-Arrangements.html
- 6
International Maritime Pilots’ Association, Safety Campaign 2026 report (campaign data reported by participating pilots), executive summary. https://impahq.org/sites/default/files/content-files/2026%20IMPA%20Safety%20Campaign%20Report.pdf
Rules checked 20 October 2026. VSL Safety is not an approved training provider and doesn't issue certificates. These lessons don't replace STCW training, or the manufacturer's training and certification that service technicians need.
