Pilot Transfer Safety Update

New SOLAS Pilot Ladder Requirements for 2028: What Maritime Professionals Need to Know

The revised SOLAS regulation V/23 and its new performance standards introduce updated requirements for the design, approval, inspection, maintenance and use of pilot transfer arrangements.

Updated September 2026 · MITAGS Maritime Safety Resource

Pilot transfers routinely require a person to move between a pilot boat and a ship, often while both vessels are moving and conditions are less than ideal. A ladder or access arrangement that is damaged, incorrectly rigged or poorly maintained can turn an ordinary transfer into a life-threatening event.

In June 2025, the International Maritime Organization’s Maritime Safety Committee adopted amendments to SOLAS regulation V/23 and new performance standards intended to strengthen the safety and consistency of pilot transfer arrangements worldwide. The amendments and standards are expected to enter into force in 2028, but shipowners, operators and vessel crews should begin reviewing their equipment, procedures and training well before 2028.

Why are the SOLAS pilot ladder requirements changing?

The revisions provide clearer requirements for pilot transfer equipment from manufacture and installation through onboard use, inspection, maintenance and replacement.

According to the International Maritime Pilots’ Association’s 2026 Safety Campaign, pilot ladder arrangements remained the leading source of noncompliant observations. Among reported pilot ladder defects, an incorrectly rigged retrieval line was the most common, followed by steps that were not horizontal and ladders that did not rest against the hull throughout their vertical length.

Key dates in the 2028 implementation timeline

The SOLAS amendments and new standards are expected to enter into force on January 1, 2028. However, implementation will be phased. For each vessel, operators should check the arrangement’s delivery date, the next applicable survey and any instructions issued by their flag Administration.

Important: Flag Administrations, classification societies and local pilotage authorities may publish additional implementation instructions. Owners and operators should check with the vessel’s flag Administration and classification society for any additional requirements.

What are the major new SOLAS pilot transfer requirements?

MSC.576(110) sets mandatory standards for the entire pilot transfer arrangement, not just the ladder.

Mechanical pilot hoists

The amended framework prohibits the use of mechanical pilot hoists. Owners and operators should remove mechanical pilot hoists from approved procedures, equipment lists and training materials.

Unsafe or noncompliant arrangements

Under revised regulations, a pilot or other person who suspects that an arrangement is noncompliant should inform the master and refuse to use it until the deficiency is corrected. This reinforces a basic operational principle: schedule pressure should never override transfer safety.

Who should prepare for the new requirements?

The changes are relevant to more than maritime pilots. Preparation should involve the people who purchase, approve, maintain, rig, supervise and use pilot transfer equipment, including:

• Shipowners and vessel operators
• Masters, chief officers and deck officers
• Deck crews assigned to rig or inspect pilot ladders
• Maritime pilots and pilot associations
• Designated persons ashore and safety-management personnel
• Technical, purchasing and fleet-maintenance teams
• Flag Administrations, surveyors and classification societies

How shipowners and operators can prepare before 2028

1. Inventory every pilot transfer arrangement

Record the manufacturer, certification, delivery and in-service dates, condition, stowage location and inspection history of every ladder, manrope and associated fitting. Note any equipment or fittings that may require replacement or modification.

2. Compare vessel arrangements with the new standards

Compare each vessel’s pilot transfer arrangement with revised SOLAS regulation V/23, MSC.576(110) and the updated IMO illustrations. Record anything that must be replaced or modified.

3. Review inspection and replacement procedures

Update the SMS to include pre-use checks, periodic inspections, maintenance, stowage, contamination and damage checks, recordkeeping and equipment-replacement limits.

4. Update purchasing specifications

Procurement teams should understand the new design, manufacturing, certification and approval expectations before ordering replacement ladders or associated equipment.

5. Train through realistic practice

Written procedures cannot replace hands-on practice. Practical training allows crewmembers to rig and inspect an arrangement, recognize unsafe conditions and practice stopping a transfer when the arrangement or conditions are unacceptable.

6. Confirm flag and local requirements

Monitor instructions from flag Administrations, class, port authorities and pilotage organizations. IMO has also encouraged voluntary early implementation, so some requirements or expectations may be introduced before 2028.

Prepare with hands-on pilot ladder safety training

The two-day MITAGS Pilot Ladder Course provides hands-on training in pilot ladder safety, rigging and climbing. Participants review safety standards and best practices, examine properly and improperly rigged ladders, practice climbing techniques, study real-world cases and take part in simulated embarkation and disembarkation scenarios.

The training can be customized for climbs between one and seven meters, depending on facility availability. An optional wet-trainer session adds controlled experience with inflatable life vests, personal flotation and survival equipment, water-safety protocols and emergency actions.

This article provides a general overview for educational purposes and is not a substitute for the official SOLAS text, flag Administration instructions, class requirements or vessel-specific compliance advice. Always consult the controlling instruments and appropriate authorities.