Maritime Access Equipment Safety Regulations

Any safety concerns regarding access equipment, including those provided by shore authorities, must be reported immediately and addressed before further use.

Aluminum equipment should undergo regular corrosion and fracture inspections as per Annex 22.2 instructions.

All inspections, maintenance work, and repairs should be documented, including the most recent inspection date, the person or body responsible, and upcoming inspection and renewal dates.

Gangways, accommodation ladders, and winches used for lifting or access must be tested and maintained, with records kept of any test certificates.

In some cases, safe boarding arrangements may not be practical using conventional methods, and alternative means or careful supervision may be necessary.

Small boats or tenders used for transport between ships and the shore should be seaworthy, suitably powered, and equipped with necessary safety equipment.

When moored next to another ship, cooperation is required to provide suitable and safe boarding arrangements, with the higher-freeboard ship typically providing access.

Extreme caution is essential when boarding or leaving a ship or moving through a dock area, with particular attention needed around container terminals and other areas with heavy machinery.

Transferring personnel between two unsecured ships at sea is hazardous and should be avoided where possible. If necessary, a risk assessment and safety measures should be implemented.

Pilot ladders and accommodation ladders must comply with SOLAS Chapter V regulations, with clear identification and record-keeping procedures.

Pilot ladders must be properly maintained, used only for pilot transfers and inspections, and rigged by responsible personnel with proper safety equipment and lighting.

Gangways and accommodation ladders on ships must be clearly marked with manufacturer's name, model number, maximum designed angle of use, and safe loading capacity.

Gangways must comply with BS MA 78:1978 standard, have suitable fencing, not be used at an angle exceeding 30 degrees, and if rigged in a ship's bulwark or railings, any remaining gaps should be adequately fenced.

Accommodation ladders must be designed to rest firmly against the ship's side, have a slope angle no more than 55 degrees, provide a safe foothold, be fitted with suitable fencing, and have direct access between the head of the ladder and the ship's deck.

Accommodation ladders must be operationally tested and records of tests should be maintained.

Bulwark ladders must comply with Shipbuilding Industry Standard No. SIS 7 or BS MA 39, Part 2:1973 Specification for ships’ ladders.

Pilot ladders must be of adequate width, length, and slip-resistant steps.

New or replacement pilot ladders installed on or after 1 July 2012 must be certified by the manufacturer as being compliant with international standards and duly marked as being Marine Equipment Directive (MED) approved.

Pilot ladders should be positioned and secured so that they are clear of possible discharges from the ship, within the mid-ship half-section of the ship, can rest firmly against the ship's side, and allow the person climbing to safely and conveniently board the ship after climbing no more than 9 meters.

Replacement steps on pilot ladders must be secured in the same way as the original construction.

Two man-ropes of not less than 28 mm in diameter should be provided for accessing the ship.

Adequate handholds should be provided where access to the ship is by a gateway in the rails or bulkhead.

Bulwark ladders should be securely attached to the bulwark rail or landing platform, and two handhold stanchions should be provided.

Where the freeboard of the ship is more than 9 meters, a combination of accommodation and pilot ladders must be provided on each side of the ship.

Accommodation ladders must comply with the same standards as gangways and extend at least 2 meters above the pilot ladder's bottom platform.

If a trap door is fitted in the bottom platform of the accommodation ladder to access the pilot ladder, the opening should be no less than 750 mm square, and the after part of the bottom platform should be fenced as the rest of the ladder.

Pilot ladder should extend above the lower platform to the height of the handrail.

Proper lee is important for pilot boats when boarding ships; arrangements for boarding should be near amidships, not under overhanging parts of the ship's hull.

Pilot ladder safety: steps should be horizontal, ladder should rest firmly against the ship, pilot ladder should extend at least 2m above bottom platform, safe access should be provided, lifebuoy and light should be available at access point, pilot ladder top should be secured to certified fixing point, care should be taken to prevent steps or spacers from being entrapped or twisted.

Safe access to small craft: consider gangways first, followed by direct steps, fixed ladders, and portable ladders; all methods can be safe with appropriate safety measures.

Recommended hierarchy of access arrangements: gangway, direct steps, fixed ladder, portable ladder.

Accommodation ladders and gangways should comply with international standards such as BS ISO 5488:2015 and ISO 7061:2015.

Accommodation ladders: rest firmly against ship, slope angle no more than 55°, provide safe foothold, fitted with fencing, lowest platform no more than 600mm above waterline, provide direct access to ship's deck.

Gangways: comply with BS MA 78:1978 or equivalent, fitted with suitable fencing, not used at angle greater than 30° from horizontal, not fixed to ship's railings unless designed for it.

Access equipment: of good construction, sound material, adequate strength, free from patent defect, properly maintained.

Rope ladders must comply with section 4 requirements.

Access equipment must be clearly marked with manufacturer's name, model number, maximum designed angle of use, and maximum safe loading.

Gangways: should comply with BS MA 78:1978 specifications, fitted with suitable fencing along entire length, not used at angle greater than 30° from horizontal, not fixed to ship's railings unless designed for it.

Any safety concerns regarding access equipment, including those provided by shore authorities, must be reported immediately and addressed before further use.

Aluminum equipment should undergo regular corrosion and fracture inspections as per Annex 22.2 instructions.

All inspections, maintenance work, and repairs should be documented, including the most recent inspection date, the person or body responsible, and upcoming inspection and renewal dates.

Gangways, accommodation ladders, and winches used for lifting or access must be tested and maintained, with records kept of any test certificates.

In some cases, safe boarding arrangements may not be practical using conventional methods, and alternative means or careful supervision may be necessary.

Small boats or tenders used for transport between ships and the shore should be seaworthy, suitably powered, and equipped with necessary safety equipment.

When moored next to another ship, cooperation is required to provide suitable and safe boarding arrangements, with the higher-freeboard ship typically providing access.

Extreme caution is essential when boarding or leaving a ship or moving through a dock area, with particular attention needed around container terminals and other areas with heavy machinery.

Transferring personnel between two unsecured ships at sea is hazardous and should be avoided where possible. If necessary, a risk assessment and safety measures should be implemented.

Pilot ladders and accommodation ladders must comply with SOLAS Chapter V regulations, with clear identification and record-keeping procedures.

Pilot ladders must be properly maintained, used only for pilot transfers and inspections, and rigged by responsible personnel with proper safety equipment and lighting.