Merchant Shipping (Pilot Ladders) (Amendment) Rules, 1972.
Statutory Instruments
Source: Statutory Instruments

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paragraphs: (1) These Rules may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Pilot Ladders) (Amendment) Rules, 1972.
(2) These Rules shall come into operation on the 1st day of December, 1972.
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paragraphs: In these Rules "the Principal Rules" means the Merchant Shipping (Pilot Ladders) Rules, 1967 ( S.I. No. 107 of 1967 ).
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paragraphs: The Principal Rules and these Rules may be cited together as the Merchant Shipping (Pilot Ladders) Rules, 1967 and 1972.
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paragraphs: The Principal Rules are hereby amended by the substitution of the following Rule for Rule 6:
"6. The following are the requirements with which a pilot ladder mentioned in Rule 5 (1) shall comply:
(a) the ladder shall be efficient for the purpose of enabling a pilot to embark and disembark safely and shall be used only by officials and other persons while a ship is arriving at or leaving a port and for the embarkation and disembarkation of pilots;
(b) the ladder shall be so positioned and secured—
(i) that it is clear of any possible discharges from the ship,
(ii) that so far as reasonably practicable it is clear of the finer lines of the ship,
(iii) that each step rests firmly against the ship's side, and
(iv) that the pilot can gain safe and convenient access to the ship after climbing not less than 1·5 metres and not more than 9 metres;
(c) a single length of the ladder shall be capable of reaching the water from the point of access to the ship when the ship is in an unloaded condition and in normal trim with no list;
(d) whenever the distance from the water to the point of access to the ship exceeds 9 metres, access from the pilot ladder to the ship shall be by means of an accommodation ladder or other equally safe and convenient means;
(e) (I) the steps of the ladder shall—
(A) be of ash, oak, elm, teak or other hard wood of equivalent strength, durability and buoyancy,
(B) each be made in one piece free of knots,
(C) have an efficient non-slip surface,
(D) be not less than 480 millimetres long, 114 millimetres wide and 25 millimetres in depth, excluding any non-slip device or grooving,
(E) be equally spaced not less than 305 millimetres or more than 380 millimetres apart and
(F) be secured in such a manner that they will remain horizontal;
(II) (A) a ladder shall not have more than two replacement steps which are secured in position by a method different from that used in the original construction of the ladder, and any steps so secured shall be replaced as soon as reasonably practicable by steps secured in position by the method used in the original construction of the ladder;
(B) when any replacement step is secured to the side ropes of the ladder by means of grooves in the sides of the step, the grooves shall be in the longer side of the step;
(f) the side ropes of the ladder shall consist of two manilla ropes not less than 60 millimetres in circumference on each side, and each rope shall be left uncovered by any other material and shall not be continuous with any joint below the top step;
(g) two man-ropes of not less than 66 millimetres in circumference, properly secured to the ship, together with a safety line shall be kept ready for use if required;
(h) (I) hard wood battens between 1,800 and 2,000 millimetres long shall be provided at such intervals as will prevent the pilot ladder from twisting, and so that the lowest batten shall not be lower than the fifth step from the bottom of the ladder and the interval between any batten and the next shall not exceed nine steps;
(II) each batten shall be of ash, oak, elm, teak or other hard wood of equivalent strength and durability and shall be made in one piece free of knots;
(i) (I) means shall be provided to ensure safe and convenient passage for the pilot on to or into and off, the ship between the head of the ladder (or of any accommodation ladder or other appliance provided pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Rule) and the ship's deck;
(II) where such passage is by means of a gateway in the rails or bulwark, adequate hand-holds shall be provided;
(III) (A) where such passage is by means of bulwark ladder, the bulwark ladder shall be securely hooked on to the bulwark rail or landing platform and two hand-hold stanchions shall be fitted at the point of boarding or leaving the ship not less than 700 millimetres or more than 800 millimetres apart;
(B) each stanchion shall be rigidly secured to the ship's structure at or near its base and also at a higher point, shall be not less than 40 millimetres in diameter and shall extend to not less than 1,200 millimetres above the top of the bulwark;
(j) (I) a light shall be provided at night, so that the pilot ladder overside and the position where the pilot boards the ship shall be adequately lit;
(II) a lifebuoy equipped with a self-igniting light shall be kept ready for use at that position;
(k) means shall be provided to enable the pilot ladder to be used in accordance with the requirements of this Rule on either side.