Implementation Timeline & Key Compliance Date

Key Requirements of SOLAS Regulation V/23 (Resolution MSC.572(110)).

As per MSC.572(110), the following requirements must be followed in any case and in accordance with the Performance Standards (MSC.576(110)).

1.     Mechanical pilot hoists are prohibited.

2.     Adequate fixed or portable lighting must illuminate all overside transfer arrangements and deck embarkation points. Portable lights require positioning brackets.

3.     If pilots suspect non-compliance, they shall notify the master and refuse use until corrected.

4.     The certificate forms Record of equipment for passenger ship safety (Form P), and for cargo ships (Form C and Form E), are amended to include ʺPilot ladder and manropes, spare pilot ladder and manropes, and means of securing a pilot ladder at intermediate lengthʺ.

1. General Requirement - Resolution MSC.576(110)

Pilot transfer arrangements shall be designed, installed, inspected, maintained, and rigged to enable safe embarkation/disembarkation in all seagoing conditions of draught and trim.

• Both sides: Equipment must be available for use on either side of the ship.
• Supervision: A responsible officer must supervise rigging and transfer and maintain communication with the navigation bridge.
• All equipment must be clearly identified with permanent markings for survey and record-keeping purposes.

2. Overview of Resolution MSC.576(110) 

3. Design, Manufacture and Construction – Part A

Key design, manufacture and construction requirements are presented in the following table:

4. Rigging Requirements – Part B

Key rigging requirements for pilot ladders are outlined below:

• Pilot ladder must be secured to dedicated strong points meeting 48 kN breaking strength requirement.
• Position limited to parallel body length and midship half-length.
• Steps must rest firmly against ship's side and remain horizontal; ladder hangs vertically without obstruction.
• Clear of any discharge, hangs vertically, free and without obstruction.
• Retrieval line secured at forward end, at or above lowest spreader.
• The combination arrangement shall be positioned and secured that:
  • Lower platform height above water≥5m; pilot ladder and manropes height above lower platform>1.5 m; highest step of pilot ladder above the lower platform>2 m
  • The horizontal distance between the pilot ladder and the lower platform shall be between 0.1 and 0.2 m        

5.  Winch Reels Installation – Part C

Key requirements for installation of pilot ladders winch reels are depicted below:

• Reel diameter minimum 0.16m and must have sunken securing points (if a pilot ladder is to be stowed on a winch drum).
• The point of access position and adjacent area shall be kept clear of obstructions, including the pilot ladder winch reel, for distances as follows: Width 915mm × Depth 915mm × Height 2200mm.
• Winch reel shall NOT be used to support the ladder; independent strong points required.
• Must be equipped with accident prevention devices, manual/powered operation brakes, and locking mechanisms.

6. Inspection and Maintenance – Part D

Key requirements for operational readiness, onboard inspection and maintenance are shown below:

• Pre- and post-use inspections required before and after each use.
• Detailed inspections required every three months.
• At least one spare compliant pilot ladder and one spare set of manropes must be carried on board.
• Pilot ladders and manropes must be removed from service within 36 months after manufacture or 30 months after being placed into service, whichever comes first.

7. Familiarization Requirements – Part E

Requirements for familiarization are depicted below:

• Onboard personnel involved in inspection, maintenance, rigging or operation of pilot transfer equipment must receive familiarization training covering operation and use, inspection procedures, replacement procedures, and special condition considerations.
• On ships which SOLAS chapter IX applies, Company ensures familiarization by STCW regulation I/14.
• On ships to which SOLAS chapter IX does not apply, shall be: 1. Equipment operation and use 2. Inspection and maintenance procedures 3. Replacement procedures 4. Special condition measures.

8. Approval Requirements – Part F

Pilot transfer arrangements must be approved by the Administration:

• Before first use (for arrangements under SOLAS V/23.3).
• After repair, alteration, or modification.
• A pilot ladder, including the means of securing the pilot ladder at intermediate lengths, and manropes shall be type-approved by the Administration.
• A manufacturer quality control system shall be required and shall be audited by a competent authority to ensure continuous compliance with the type approval conditions.

Shipowners, Operators, and Masters should take the following actions to ensure compliance with these new requirements:

• Review Current Arrangements: Assess existing pilot transfer arrangements against the new performance standards to identify gaps.
• Develop Implementation Plan: Establish timelines for compliance based on ship type and installation dates. Plan modifications, if needed. 
• Update Maintenance Procedures: Implement the required inspection and maintenance plans, including record-keeping systems.
• Training and Familiarization: Ensure all relevant crew members receive appropriate training in the new requirements.
• Procure Spare Equipment: Acquire spare pilot ladders and manropes as required by the standards.
• Seek Administration Approval: Ensure pilot transfer arrangements are approved by the Administration in accordance with Part F of the performance standards

1.     How to define the installation date?

The expression "installed on or after 1 January 2028" means a contractual delivery date for the pilot transfer arrangement or, in the absence of a contractual delivery date, the actual delivery date of the arrangement to the ship on or after 1 January 2028.

2.     The pilot ladder of a new constructed VLCC is installed before 1 January 2028 (contractual delivery date), but vessel will be delivered on 5 January 2029. Do we need to comply with the new requirement?

Yes. Pilot transfer arrangements installed before 1 January 2028 on ships to which chapter I of SOLAS applies shall comply with the requirements not later than the first survey on or after 1 January 2029.  With refer to the MSC.1-Circ.1290, for a ship under construction, where the keel is laid before, but the ship is delivered after, the date specified in the relevant regulation, the initial survey is the “first survey”.

3.     Do vessels need to carry extra pilot ladders and manropes?

Yes, the new regulation requires at least one spare compliant pilot ladder and one spare set of manropes must be carried on board. These are also required even if pilot transfer arrangements are provided on both sides of the ship.

4.     What is the validity of the pilot ladder and manrope?

Pilot ladders and manropes, including their spares, shall be removed from service, either at any time not complying with these performance standards, or within 36 months after the date of manufacture or within 30 months after the date of being placed into service, whichever comes first, and shall not be used for the embarkation and disembarkation of pilots or other personnel.

5.     Can the vessel crew carry out repairs to the pilot ladder steps or spreader?

No. Repair or replacement of pilot ladder steps or spreader steps onboard shall be prohibited. A spare set of pilot ladder arrangements must be ready to be moved to either side of the ship to replace damaged equipment as needed. Pilot transfer arrangements installed in accordance with SOLAS regulation V/23 shall be approved by the Administration in accordance with the performance standards (MSC.576(110)) before being put into service for the first time and after repair, alteration or design modifications.

6.     When is a combination arrangement needed? Are there any changes to the pilot boarding marking?

The height of climb on a pilot ladder shall not be less than 1.5 m and not more than 9 m from the surface of the water to the point of access in all seagoing conditions of draught and trim. Whenever the height of climbing on a pilot ladder from the surface of the water to the point of access exceeds 9 m, the ship shall be provided with and rig an accommodation ladder in conjunction with the pilot ladder (i.e. a combination arrangement). On all ships which may require combination arrangements, a two-tone visual mark, the upper half being white and the lower half being red, not less than 4 m in height and 0.5 m in width shall be provided in the midship half-length of the ship in the vicinity of the pilot boarding position to indicate to the user whether or not a combination arrangement is to be rigged. The dividing line between the upper and the lower halves of the pilot line shall be 9 m below the point of access.

As point of access is defined the top of the coaming, bulwark or platform where the actual pilot transfer takes place. Therefore, it must be verified that the pilot boarding mark is measured from the point of access, as defined above.