Merchant Shipping (Pilot Transfer Arrangements) Rules 2020

• Jurisdiction: Ireland
• Citation: IR SI 686/2020

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 5th January, 2021.

I, EAMON RYAN, Minister for Transport, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 82 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 2010 (No. 14 of 2010) (as adapted by the Transport, Tourism and Sport (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2020 ( S.I. No. 351 of 2020 )), hereby make the following rules:

Citation

1. These Rules may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Pilot Transfer Arrangements) Rules 2020.

Definitions

2. In these Rules–

“installed on or after 1 July 2012” in relation to a ship, means-

(a) for a ship for which a building contract is placed on or after 1 July 2012, or in the absence of the contract, constructed on or after 1 July 2012, any installation on the ship, and

(b) for a ship, other than those ships referred to in paragraph (a), a contractual delivery date for the system, in its entirety or for individual components of the system, as relevant, to the ship on or after 1 July 2012 or, in the absence of a contractual delivery date, the actual delivery of the system, in its entirety or for individual components, to the ship on or after 1 July 2012. This does not apply to equipment and arrangements to which Rule 5 (5) applies;

“MSO” means the Marine Survey Office of the Department of Transport;

“pilot” means any person not belonging to a ship who has the conduct of the ship;

“Resolution A.889 (21)” means the Recommendation on Pilot Transfer Arrangements adopted by Resolution A.889 (21) on 25 November 1999 of the International Maritime Organisation;

“Resolution A.1108 (29)” means the Recommendation on Pilot Transfer Arrangements adopted by Resolution A.1045 (27) on 30 November 2011, as amended by Resolution A.1108 (29) adopted on 2 December 2015, of the International Maritime Organisation.

Purpose of Rules

3. The purpose of these Rules is to implement Regulation 23 of Chapter V of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) 1974 regarding pilot transfer arrangements and to ensure that pilot ladders and their arrangements, use and maintenance conform to standards set out for equipment and arrangements for pilot transfer which–

(a) were installed on a ship on or after 1 January 1994 but before 1 July 2012, set out in the Annex to Resolution A.889 (21), or

(b) are installed on a ship on or after 1 July 2012, set out in the Annex to Resolution A.1108 (29).

Application

4. These Rules do not apply to fishing vessels.

Pilot transfer arrangements

5. (1) Ships engaged on voyages in the course of which pilots are likely to be employed shall be provided with pilot transfer arrangements.

(2) Equipment and arrangements for pilot transfer which were installed on a ship on or after 1 January 1994 but before 1 July 2012 shall comply with the requirements of these Rules and conform to standards set out in Schedule 1 (being the standards set out in the Annex to Resolution A.889 (21)).

(3) Equipment and arrangements for pilot transfer which are installed on a ship on or after 1 July 2012, shall-

(a) comply with the requirements of these Rules and conform to standards set out in Schedule 2 (being the standards set out in the Annex to Resolution A.1108 (29)), and

(b) in the case of a pilot ladder–

(i) be certified by the manufacturer as complying with section 2 of Schedule 2 or an international standard specified for the time being by the MSO, and

(ii) 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.

(4) A record shall be kept on a ship as to the date a ladder identified under paragraph (3)(b)(ii) is placed into service and any repairs effected.

(5) Reference in these Rules to an accommodation ladder includes a sloping ladder used as part of the pilot transfer arrangements.

(6) Equipment and arrangements, installed on a ship on or after 1 July 2012, which are a replacement of equipment and arrangements provided on a ship before 1 July 2012, shall, in so far as is reasonable and practicable, comply with paragraph (4).

Pilot transfer - safety

6. (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) The rigging of the pilot transfer arrangements and the embarkation and disembarkation of a pilot shall be supervised by a responsible officer having means of communication with the navigation bridge and 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.

Pilot transfer – ship embarkation and disembarkation arrangements

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

(2) In all ships where the distance from sea level to the point of access to, or egress from, the ship exceeds 9 metres, and when it is intended to embark and disembark pilots by means of the accommodation ladder 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) Safe and convenient access to, and egress from, the ship shall be provided by either:

(a) a pilot ladder requiring a climb of not less than 1.5 metres and not more than 9 metres above the surface of the water so positioned and secured that-

(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 MSO be made to ensure that persons are able to embark and disembark safely, and

(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 degrees; the securing strongpoints, shackles and securing ropes shall be at least as strong as the side ropes; or

(b) 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 metres. 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.

(4) When a combination arrangement is used for pilot access, means shall be provided to secure the pilot ladder and man-ropes to the ship’s side at a point of nominally 1.5 metres 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.

Access to ship’s deck

8. (1) 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.

(2) Where the aforesaid passage is by means of a gateway in the rails or bulwark, adequate handholds shall be provided.

(3) Where the aforesaid passage is by means of 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.

Shipside doors

9. Shipside doors used for pilot transfer shall not open outwards.

Mechanical pilot hoists

10. Mechanical pilot hoists shall not be used.

Associated equipment

11. (1) The following associated equipment shall be kept at hand ready for immediate use when persons are being transferred:

(a) two man-ropes of not less than 28 millimetres and not more than 32 millimetres 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 man-ropes 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);

(b) a lifebuoy equipped with a self-igniting light; and

(c) a heaving line.

(2) When required by Rule 8, stanchions and bulwark ladders shall be provided.

Lighting

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

Revocation

13. The Merchant Shipping (Pilot Ladders and Hoists) Rules 1993 ( S.I. No. 55 of 1993 ) are revoked.

Regulation 5(2)

SCHEDULE 1

Pilot Transfer Arrangements

Based on: Annex to RESOLUTION A.889 (21)

1. GENERAL

Ship...