New industry guidance on pilot transfer arrangements published

Published: 20 January 2022

In an effort to improve the safety of pilots and seafarers, The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the International Maritime Pilots’ Association (IMPA), in collaboration with a number of industry organisations including BIMCO, have released the third edition of the Shipping Industry Guidance on Pilot Transfer Arrangements.

The guidance is intended to remind seafarers and companies of the vital importance of adhering to the rules and established procedures concerning the provision of safe boarding arrangements for pilots and the third edition includes a new section outlining the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) guidance on combination embarkation platform arrangements.

Pilots who have climbed a safe, well rigged pilot ladder and attended by an officer and a deck party will be in the right frame of mind to give their best attention to the safety of the ship.

Safe means of access is a pilot's right and they can decline to board ships with unsafe arrangements. Pilots are also entitled to report defects in boarding arrangements to port state control authorities, which could lead to a full port state control inspection with the risk of delay and financial penalties.

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