(www.MaritimeCyprus.com) Every year, maritime pilots put their lives on the line to ensure the safe navigation of ships into port. The 2025 IMPA Safety Campaign, based on 5,285 reports from over 940 pilots worldwide, paints a troubling yet familiar picture: pilot transfer arrangements remain dangerously non-compliant in far too many cases.
Key Findings:
14% of transfers were non-compliant — with 85% of these not reported to authorities.
The highest non-compliance rates were seen in Africa (24%) and Oceania (22%).
Pilot ladders continue to top the list of unsafe arrangements, particularly:
Retrieval lines rigged incorrectly (35%)
Ladders not lying flush against the hull (8%)
Ladders not within midships half-length (8%)
Only 2% of gangway transfers were non-compliant — showing it's possible to get it right.
Despite years of campaigning, non-compliance levels have not improved significantly. This is not a regulatory failure — it's an industry culture issue.
As IMPA rightly states, “There is no substitute for the presence of a qualified pilot on the bridge.” But that presence must be safe. The lack of secured ladders, missing safety gear, and poor reporting culture continue to endanger lives.
Call to Action:
Ship operators, port authorities, and crew must prioritize compliant transfer equipment.
Flag and port States should investigate all reported defects — and proactively inspect where under-reporting is evident.
Let's shift from acceptance to accountability — every unsafe ladder is a risk we can't afford.
For more details you can download below the full Safety Campaign from IMPA:
Source: IMPA
