Ships
engaged on voyages in the course of which pilots may be
employed shall be provided with pilot transfer
arrangements.

1.2

Equipment
and arrangements for pilot transfer which are installed1
on or after 1 July 2012 shall comply with the requirements
of this regulation, and due regard shall be paid to
the standards adopted by the Organization2.

1.3

Except as provided otherwise, equipment
and arrangements for pilot transfer which are provided
on ships before 1 July 2012 shall at least comply
with the requirements of regulation 173 or 23, as applicable, of the International
Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, in force
prior to that date, and due regard shall be paid to
the standards adopted by the Organization prior to that
date.

1.4

Equipment
and arrangements installed on or after 1 July 2012, which are a replacement of equipment and arrangements provided on ships before 1 July 2012,
shall, in so far as is reasonable and practicable,
comply with the requirements of this regulation.

1.5

With respect to ships constructed before
1 January 1994, paragraph 5 shall not apply later than the first survey4 on or after 1 July 2012

1.6

Paragraph 6 applies to all ships.

1Refer to the Unified interpretation of SOLAS regulation V/23 (MSC.1/Circ.1375).

2Refer to the Recommendation on pilot
transfer arrangements, to be adopted by the Organization

3Refer to resolution MSC.99(73), renumbering previous regulation 17 as regulation 23, which entered into
force on 1 July 2002.

4Refer to the Unified interpretation of the term "first survey" referred to in SOLAS regulations
(MSC.1/Circ.1290).

2.

General

2.1

All
arrangements used for pilot transfer shall efficiently
fulfil their purpose of enabling pilots to embark and
disembark safely. The appliances shall be kept clean,
properly maintained and stowed and shall be regularly
inspected to ensure that they are safe to use. They
shall be used solely for the embarkation and disembarkation
of personnel.

2.2

The
rigging of the pilot transfer arrangements and the embarkation
of a pilot shall be supervised by a responsible officer
having means of communication with the navigation bridge
who shall also arrange for the escort of the pilot by
a safe route to and from the navigation bridge. Personnel
engaged in rigging and operating any mechanical equipment
shall be instructed in the safe procedures to be adopted
and the equipment shall be tested prior to use.

2.3

A pilot ladder shall be certified by the
manufacturer as complying with this regulation or with an international standard acceptable to the Organization5. Ladders shall
be inspected in accordance with regulations I/6, 7 and 8.

2.4

All pilot ladders used for pilot transfer shall
be clearly identified with tags or other permanent marking so as to enable identification of each appliance for the purposes of survey,
inspection and record keeping. A record shall be kept on the ship as to the date the identified ladder is placed into service and any repairs
effected.

2.5

Reference in this regulation to an accommodation ladder
includes a sloping ladder used as part of the pilot transfer arrangements.

5Refer to the recommendations by the International Organization for Standardization, in particular
publication ISO 799:2004, Ships and marine technology - Pilot ladders.

3.

Transfer
arrangements

3.1

Arrangements
shall be provided to enable the pilot to embark and
disembark safely on either side of the ship.

3.2

In
all ships where the distance from sea level to the point
of access to, or egress from, the ship exceeds 9 m,
and when it is intended to embark and disembark pilots
by means of the accommodation ladder6, or other equally safe and convenient
means in conjunction with a pilot ladder, the ship shall
carry such equipment on each side, unless the equipment
is capable of being transferred for use on either side.

3.3

Safe
and convenient access to, and egress from, the ship
shall be provided by either:

3.3.1

a
pilot ladder requiring a climb of not less than
1.5 m and not more than 9 m above the surface
of the water so positioned and secured that:

3.3.1.1

it
is clear of any possible discharges from the ship;

3.3.1.2

it
is within the parallel body length of the ship
and, as far as is practicable, within the mid-ship
half length of the ship;

3.3.1.3

each
step rests firmly against the ship's side; where
constructional features, such as rubbing bands,
would prevent the implementation of this provision,
special arrangements shall, to the satisfaction
of the Administration, be made to ensure that
persons are able to embark and disembark safely;

3.3.1.4

the
single length of pilot ladder is capable of reaching
the water from the point of access to, or egress
from, the ship and due allowance is made for all
conditions of loading and trim of the ship, and
for an adverse list of 15°; the securing strong
point, shackles and securing ropes shall be at
least as strong as the side ropes;

3.3.2

an
accommodation ladder in conjunction with the pilot
ladder (i.e. a combination arrangement), or other equally safe and convenient means,
whenever the distance from the surface of the
water to the point of access to the ship is more
than 9 m. The accommodation ladder shall be sited
leading aft. When in use, means shall be provided to secure the lower platform of the accommodation ladder
to the ship's side, so as to ensure that the lower end of the accommodation ladder and the lower platform
are held firmly against the ship's side within the parallel body length of the ship and, as far as is practicable,
within the mid-ship half length and clear of all discharges.

3.3.2.1

when a combination arrangement is used
for pilot access, means shall be provided to secure the pilot ladder and manropes to the ship's side at a point of nominally
1.5m above the bottom platform of the accommodation ladder. In the case of a combination arrangement using an accommodation
ladder with a trapdoor in the bottom platform (i.e. embarkation platform), the pilot ladder and man ropes shall be rigged
through the trapdoor extending above the platform to the height of the handrail

6Refer to regulation II-1/3-9 on Means of embarkation on and disembarkation from ships, adopted by
resolution MSC.256(84), together with the associated Guidelines (MSC.1/Circ.1331).

4.

Access
to the ship's deck

Means
shall be provided to ensure safe, convenient and unobstructed
passage for any person embarking on, or disembarking from,
the ship between the head of the pilot ladder, or of any
accommodation ladder or other appliance, and the ship's
deck. Where such passage is by means of:

4.1

a
gateway in the rails or bulwark, adequate handholds
shall be provided;

4.2

a
bulwark ladder, two handhold stanchions rigidly secured
to the ship's structure at or near their bases and
at higher points shall be fitted. The bulwark ladder
shall be securely attached to the ship to prevent
overturning.

5.

Shipside
doors

Shipside
doors used for pilot transfer shall not open outwards.

6.

Mechanical
pilot hoists

Mechanical pilot hoists shall not be used.

7.

Associated
equipment

7.1

The
following associated equipment shall be kept at hand
ready for immediate use when persons are being transferred;

7.1.1

two man-ropes of not less than
28 mm and not more than 32 mm in diameter properly secured to the ship if required by the pilot; man-ropes shall
be fixed at the rope end to the ring plate fixed on deck and shall be ready for use when the pilot disembarks,
or upon request from a pilot approaching to board (the manropes 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;

7.1.2

a
lifebuoy equipped with a self-igniting light;

7.1.3

a
heaving line.

7.2

When
required by paragraph 4, stanchions and bulwark ladders
shall be provided.

8.

Lighting

Adequate
lighting shall be provided to illuminate the transfer arrangements
overside, the position on deck where a person embarks or
disembarks.

MCA
Guidance

1. General

1.1

This Regulation applies to any ship which may employ a pilot (SOLAS Ch V/Reg. 23.1.1) with equipment and arrangements
installed on or after 1 July 2012 (23.1.2).
It does not apply to: UK ships below 150 GT on any voyage; UK ships below 500 GT not on international voyages; or fishing vessels,
unless they are likely to employ a pilot. IMO Resolution A.1045 (27) outlines further guidance on applicable
standards.

1.2

Equipment and arrangements
installed before 1 July 2012 may continue to comply with the SOLAS requirements in force before that date,
but if it is replaced, the new equipment and arrangements must comply with this Regulation (23.1.3 & 23.1.4).

1.3

The arrangements for the embarkation
and disembarkation of pilots should also be considered at the design stage, particularly where unusual hull forms or the
provision of belting is proposed, to ensure full compliance with the Regulations. Information and guidance on the pilot
transfer arrangements is also provided in "ISO 799 Ships & marine technology - Pilot ladders, 3rd edition 2004".

2. Adequate securing of Pilot ladders

2.1

Adequate arrangements for securing the pilot ladder should be provided. An arrangement conforming to the Shipbuilding
Industry Standard No. SIS 6 or equivalent can be accepted.

2.2

A bulwark ladder should comply
with the specifications set out in the Shipbuilding Industry Standard No. SIS 7 or be of an equivalent standard.

3. The Pilot ladder

3.1

Pilot ladder shall be type-approved
to MED standards (European Council Directive 96/98/EC of 20 December 1996 on marine equipment, as amended).
MSN 1734, as amended, provides more information on the above. A pilot ladder conforming to BS MA 92 (incorporates ISO 799:2004),
can be accepted provided that it meets the Regulation requirements.

3.2

Steps and spreaders must be
of one piece and made from knot free ash, oak, elm, teak or other hardwood of similar characteristics or of a material
of at least equivalent strength, stiffness and durability.

4. Ropes

4.1

Use of synethetic fibre ropes is conditional on:

(I)

it
is clear of any possible discharges from the ship;

(II)

it
is within the parallel body length of the ship
and, as far as is practicable, within the mid-ship
half length of the ship;

(III)

each
step rests firmly against the ship's side; where
constructional features, such as rubbing bands,
would prevent the implementation of this provision,
special arrangements shall, to the satisfaction
of the Administration, be made to ensure that
persons are able to embark and disembark safely;

(IV)

the
single length of pilot ladder is capable of reaching
the water from the point of access to, or egress
from, the ship and due allowance is made for all
conditions of loading and trim of the ship, and
for an adverse list of 15°; the securing strong
point, shackles and securing ropes shall be at
least as strong as the side ropes;

5. Associated Equipment

5.1

Shipside doors used for pilot
transfer shall not open outwards (23-5).With respect to ships constructed before 1 January 1994, this shall apply not
later than the first survey on or after 1 July 2012. Where the ladder is rigged adjacent and to the side of a shipside
door, in addition to the requirements in (23.4), provision should be made for a platform with stanchions and railings
in order that a pilot can safely step sideways and into the ship.

5.2

Belting should be cut back
in the way of the pilot ladder to ensure that the pilot ladder rests firmly against the ship's side throughout its length.
Tapered fendering should be fitted underneath the belting immediately forward and abaft the cut-out in the belting to prevent
the gunwale of a pilot boat becoming trapped under the belting.

6. Vessels with large freeboard conditions

6.1

Combination Arrangements; When an
accommodation ladder is used in combination with a pilot ladder, the accommodation ladder should comply with the
specifications set out in standard BS MA 89:1980 (incorporates ISO 5488-1979) or be of an equivalent standard.

6.2

Crew Safety; In order to ensure
safety of the crew who may be involved with the set-up and rigging of the pilot transfer arrangement, particularly
with a combination arrangement that involves securing of pilot and accommodation ladders overside, a full risk assessment
shall be undertaken. As part of mitigation measures in view of the work overside, bespoke personnel security arrangements
may have to be deployed to ensure safety of the crew whilst rigging this equipment.

6.3

Further advice on the above securing
arrangements can be obtained from International Marine Pilots' Association (IMPA at http://www.impahq.org).

7. Lighting

7.1

Fixed or portable lights may be used to illuminate
the ladder overside. To avoid dazzling the pilot boat crew, lights should shine from abaft the pilot ladder. The deck area in
the vicinity of the pilot ladder should also be adequately lit. Spot lighting from the wings of the bridge or other suitable position may be accepted.

An updated
poster entitled "Required boarding arrangements for pilots"
is contained in MSC.1/Circ.1428
- Pilot Transfer Arrangements
. IMO advises that this poster should be brought to the
attention of all concerned with pilot transfer.