AMSA – Pilot Transfer Arrangement

Following a number of incidents since November 2017 involving failure of pilot transfer arrangements the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has issued a Marine Notice for the safe Pilot transfer Arrangements.

Shipowners, operators, masters and crews are reminded that pilot transfer arrangements, including pilot ladders, must comply with Marine Order 21 (Safety and emergency arrangements) 2016 (MO21) which implements Australia’s obligations under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Chapter V Regulation 23 (SOLAS V/23).

Responsibility for safe practices for personnel transfers rests with each person involved in the activity including the vessel owners, operators, master and crew, pilotage providers, pilots and pilot boat crew, as well as the person being transferred. All parties should observe both the spirit and intent of the regulations, to ensure safety is not compromised.

Where a marine pilot suspects that the pilot transfer arrangement provided is unsafe, they should refuse to use the arrangement until it is made safe by the master and crew and report the circumstances to AMSA. Where such situations occur, AMSA will endeavour to follow-up to determine the cause and actions taken. Where a vessel is not calling into an Australian port, AMSA will follow up with the flag State.

More information is available on the AMSA website here.

The club had published the version 3.0 of the Guidance on Pilot Transfer Arrangements earlier this year and it is available here. 

MO21 is available at the bottom of this page.

We recommend the member to reiterate to the ship staff the importance of providing safe access to the ships especially when embarking or disembarking pilots.

Category: Loss Prevention