The ship’s pilot transfer procedures had not been revised to incorporate the most recent SOLAS requirements that manropes be secured at the rope end to a ring plate fixed to the deck.
The ATSB is satisfied that the actions taken by Dorval Ship Management since the incident satisfactorily address the safety issue.
Dorval Ship Management has advised that it has revised its navigation manual procedures for pilot transfer to ensure that the securing of manropes is in accordance with SOLAS recommendations, as follows:
The supervising Officer shall always inspect and confirm to the Master that the pilot transfer arrangements are properly rigged and considered safe immediately prior to each pilot boarding / disembarkation by observing at least the following:
…b) proper securing of the pilot ladder ends to strong dedicated point on deck (fixed ring plates)
and further
…g) availability and proper securing of two 28mm manila ropes on each side of the pilot ladders (if required by the Pilot) - the ends of manropes shall always be made tight to the provided ring plates fixed on deck and shall reach the height of the stanchions or bulwarks at the point of access to the deck before terminating at the ring plate on deck…
The ATSB is satisfied that the action taken by Dorval Ship Management will adequately address this safety issue.
