SOURCE - MAIB - MARINE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REPORTS
A fatal accident occurred during a pilot transfer operation between a general cargo vessel and a pilot boat, resulting in the loss of one life. Pilot transfer operations are among the most hazardous routine activities in maritime operations, involving the movement of personnel between vessels in dynamic and often unpredictable conditions.According to established industry guidance, pilot transfers require precise coordination between the ship, pilot boat, and crew, strict compliance with international regulations, and continuous situational awareness. The operation typically involves:
The Code of Practice emphasizes that the decision to proceed rests jointly on the Coxswain and the Pilot, and operations must be aborted if unsafe conditions exist .Despite these structured procedures, the incident demonstrates how quickly a routine operation can escalate into a fatal event when critical safety elements fail.
Pilot transfer inherently combines multiple high-risk factors:
The document clearly identifies that falls during pilot transfer are a primary hazard, particularly in adverse conditions or when equipment is improperly rigged .
Based on the operational risks and procedures outlined in the Code of Practice, the probable contributing causes in such incidents typically include:
The Code explicitly states that operations must not proceed if ladder arrangements are unsafe .
Safe transfer requires clear VHF communication and coordinated maneuvering prior to approach .
The document highlights that stepping onto the ladder must be precisely timed with vessel motion, and operations must be abandoned if risk is present .
Personnel are required to wear appropriate PPE and be trained in its use .
The Code stresses that the Coxswain must abort operations where risk is significant .
Critically, the document states:
“The success of any rescue is directly related to the expertise of the boat crew and pilots and their training”
The most decisive factor in fatal pilot transfer accidents is rarely a single failure.It is typically a chain of small failures, such as:
Combined, these create a loss of safety margin, leading to a fall into the sea and ultimately loss of life.
The Code of Practice places exceptional emphasis on training, particularly in:
Personnel must be trained to:
A trained pilot or Coxswain would be more likely to refuse the transfer before the incident occurs.
Training builds:
The Code clearly supports refusal:
Operations should not proceed if conditions are unsafe
Including:
These reduce human error during real operations.
The document explicitly states:
A well-trained crew can:
Training ensures:
This incident highlights a fundamental truth in maritime safety:
Fatalities during pilot transfer are rarely unavoidable — they are usually preventable.
If any one of the following had been applied correctly:
The outcome could have been different.
Pilot transfer operations remain one of the highest-risk routine activities in shipping. The loss of life in this case reflects not only the inherent danger of the operation, but more importantly, the failure to fully apply established safety practices.The Code of Practice provides clear guidance on:
However, procedures alone are not enough.Only through structured, realistic, and enforced training can these procedures become instinctive actions.A properly trained pilot, crew, or Coxswain:
And in this case, that difference could have meant:Proper training obtained - possibly one life saved.We want to help in this matter, we want to make shipping a safer world by putting a small stone of improvement, We are sure we can.www.Danesa.coConstandinos Karikoglou BEng MScCTO Danesa Maritime And Technical Manager
