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Unit OT 18-35, Level 18, Central Park Towers, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai, P.O. Box 18006, United Arab Emirates
16200 Central Green Blvd
78 Shenton Way #09-01 Singapore 079120
Group Vice President, Asia Pacific & Indian Subcontinent
Unit OT 18-35, Level 18, Central Park Towers, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai, P.O. Box 18006, United Arab Emirates
Unit OT 18-35, Level 18, Central Park Towers, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai, P.O. Box 18006, United Arab Emirates
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08 Jan 2026 / Newcastle, Australia
New minimum safety criteria for pilot ladder transfers at the port of Newcastle come into force on 10 January.
The substandard condition of the pilot ladders and their associated equipment, inadequate maintenance regimes, incorrect rigging, and a lack of awareness have been established as the major contributors to several significant incidents during pilot transfers.
To address the potential risks and the safety concerns surrounding the marine pilot transfers and to facilitate a standardised approach to marine pilot transfer arrangements, the Port Authority of New South Wales has mandated the following minimum safety criteria, which allows a single standard to be used by vessels visiting our ports for all pilot ladder transfers from the stipulated date.
1) The pilot ladders shall comply with the ISO standard 799-1:2019 (as amended) and shall be certified by the manufacturer accordingly.
2) Maximum permissible age of pilot ladders – 30 months from the date of manufacture unless the ladder has been subjected to the ladder and step attachment strength test (as prescribed in ISO 799- 1:2019) at not more than 30-month intervals.
3) Maximum permissible age of the manropes (Grade 1 manila rope, diameter 28~32 mm) to be used with pilot ladders – 12 months from the date of manufacture.
4) Vessel operators to provide ship-specific guidance to the vessel’s crew on:
a. Storage, care, inspection and maintenance of the pilot ladders, manropes, and all the other associated equipment, including combination (pilot assist) ladders.
b. Rigging and securing of the pilot ladders and combination ladder arrangement, the acceptable securing method for pilot ladders mounted on reels, acceptable material, and size for securing ropes.
5) All Pilot ladders, manropes and associated equipment are to be used exclusively for marine transfers and to be marked as ‘For Marine Transfers only’.
6) Original certificates issued by the certifying authority for all the pilot ladders, manropes, securing and lifting arrangements to be retained onboard.
For further details and information about operations in Australia, contact GAC Australia at [email protected]
