Shipping Company & Master Fined For Pilot Ladder Accident

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has effectively taken legal action against a ship's captain and the owning corporation following an accident that resulted in injury to a pilot during boarding operations on a Panama-registered cargo vessel.

While attempting to board the Boshi 58 on May 25, 2023, the pilot sustained serious injuries due to the failure of the pilot ladder in the midst of the transfer process.

Both the captain of the Boshi 58 and its owning company, Fu Ye Shipping, admitted to their negligence and were fined $5,300 and $32,000 respectively. Their failure to adhere to the required safety protocols for pilot transfer, as outlined in the relevant Marine Order and the Navigation Act 2012, led to this penalty.

The trial revealed that the pilot ladder was not regularly inspected and was stored improperly, which resulted in its deterioration to the point of being hazardous.

In a similar incident, AAL Dampier Navigation Co Ltd faced a fine of $30,500 in June 2023 for breaching safety regulations.

Michael Drake, AMSA's Executive Director of Operations, emphasized that these incidents were avoidable and posed a serious and inadmissible risk to the safety of maritime personnel. He highlighted recurring problems with pilot ladders, such as their incompatibility with accommodation ladders, the hazardous use of shackles, and the lack of regular checks, maintenance, and proper storage.