IMPA and ISO — Industry Standards for Pilot Ladder Safety
The safety of maritime pilots depends on equipment that works as users need it to, not just as manufacturers design it. IMPA participates in the international standards process to ensure that industry standards for pilot ladders and associated equipment reflect the real-world experience of pilots and other users of pilot transfer arrangements.
About ISO TC8/SC1
ISO Technical Committee 8, Sub-Committee 1 (ISO TC8/SC1) develops international standards for marine lifesaving and fire protection, including the design, construction, equipment, and materials used in shipbuilding and ship operations. Its work supports the requirements of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the broader maritime industry.
IMPA has liaison status with ISO TC8/SC1. Working Group 2 (WG2), which sits within TC8/SC1, is responsible for developing and maintaining the ISO 799 series of standards — the international standards for pilot ladders which support the implementation of SOLAS regulation V/23.
The ISO 799 Standards for Pilot Ladders
The ISO 799 series comprises three standards covering the full lifecycle of a pilot ladder — from design and manufacture through to maintenance, inspection, and associated equipment.
ISO 799-1:2019 — Ships and marine technology — Pilot ladders — Part 1: Design and specification
ISO 799-1:2019 sets out the design and specification requirements that pilot ladders must meet to enable the safe embarkation and disembarkation of maritime pilots and other personnel. It is the primary reference standard for manufacturers developing pilot ladder designs and for certifying bodies, including classification societies, conducting conformity assessments.
The standard is fully prescriptive — there are no provisions for alternative designs. This ensures consistency and predictability of the equipment pilots depend on in demanding and often hazardous conditions.
ISO 799-2:2021 — Ships and marine technology — Pilot ladders — Part 2: Maintenance, use, survey, and inspection
A pilot ladder that meets design standards at the time of manufacture can become unsafe due to improper storage, poor maintenance, or inadequate inspection. ISO 799-2:2021 sets out requirements and recommendations for the maintenance, use, storage, and inspection of pilot ladders throughout their operational life.
Shipowners and operators should use this standard when developing the policies and procedures for pilot transfer arrangements within their safety management systems (SMS), as required by the ISM Code.
ISO 799-3:2022 — Ships and marine technology — Pilot ladders — Part 3: Attachments and associated equipment
Safe pilot transfer depends not only on the pilot ladder itself but on the equipment and arrangements that support its use. ISO 799-3:2022 specifies requirements and recommendations for the full range of attachments and associated equipment, and provides guidance on their correct use.
The standard covers the elements that most frequently give rise to safety concerns in practice, including securing ladders at intermediate lengths on ships with variable draughts, deck and hull securing equipment, man-ropes, bulwark openings and deck access arrangements, stanchions, anti-chafing measures, and the interface between pilot ladders and accommodation ladders when used in combination.
Shipowners and operators should use this standard when developing policies and procedures for pilot transfer arrangements within their safety management systems (SMS), as required by the ISM Code.
Find out more
If you would like to know more about IMPA's work in ISO TC8/SC1, contact the IMPA Secretariat at office@impahq.org.
More information on ISO TC8/SC1 is available here.