Implementation of Smart Pilotage to Safeguard Pilots from Pilot Ladder Accidents

Abstract

This study aims to identify and use digital technology to ensure the pilots’ lives’ safety and to avoid unnecessary delays due to vessels staying at quarantine anchorage during pandemics. The primary means for a pilot to board or disembark a ship is by a pilot ladder. Many pilots suffered severe injuries or even lost their life due to accidents involving the failure of pilot ladders. For this research, a questionnaire with five questions about the dangers and its reasons which threaten pilots’ lives, was prepared, and distributed to professionals both in the maritime industry and port operations. Eightynine professionals from the maritime industry answered it. The most common causes affecting pilots’ safety were unsafe rigging and not securing the ladder correctly or the breaking of a defective pilot ladder. In addition, interviews made with three maritime experts about the distance pilotage. This study aims to utilize and implement the digital technology enabling pilots to sit in the port control office or Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) office instead of going onboard a vessel. For assessing our innovation, a berthing and one unberthing scenario were designed and tested in our full mission bridge simulator by an experienced pilot. The results discovered during the debriefing sessions and the feedback from other experienced pilots and captains were satisfying, making us confident and comfortable with the innovation idea