Pilot Ladder & Transfer Arrangements Inspection
in United Arab Emirates.

Pilot transfer arrangement inspection

Pilot ladders and combination arrangements are safety-critical interfaces between ship and shore. Failures commonly involve damaged steps or side ropes, unsafe deck securing, poor access, incorrect spreader spacing, non-compliant shackles, obstructed approaches, inadequate lighting, or badly rigged accommodation ladders. An independent inspection checks the complete transfer route rather than treating the ladder as a standalone item.

Current and forthcoming requirements

SOLAS regulation V/23, IMO pilot-transfer recommendations, performance standards, flag guidance, and equipment certification apply according to the ship and installation. Amendments adopted through MSC.572(110) introduce revised requirements from 1 January 2028, with transitional application to existing ships tied to subsequent surveys. Owners should verify the final flag and class implementation dates for each vessel. Early gap assessment can identify deck modifications, replacement equipment, certification, and procurement needs before the compliance window.

Typical inspection scope

• Pilot ladder certificate, identification, service history, storage, steps, spreaders, side ropes, seizings, and retrieval arrangements
• Strong-point and securing method, deck access, handholds, stanchions, bulwark ladder, lifebuoy, heaving line, and lighting
• Combination arrangement geometry, accommodation ladder platform, lower platform, leads, clear ship-side area, and communications
• Pilot ladder winch reel foundations, brakes, controls, emergency operation, and safe ladder attachment where fitted
• Photographic compliance report, measurements, defect list, replacement specification, and rectification verification

Information for attendance

Send vessel type and build date, port, freeboard range, arrangement drawings, pilot ladder and winch-reel certificates, ladder manufacture date, previous deficiencies, flag guidance, and photographs of port and starboard stations. Confirm whether the arrangement can be rigged at the berth and whether work aloft or over-side permits are needed. The master remains responsible for ensuring a safe, correctly rigged arrangement for every pilot transfer.