Port association issues stark safety warning

UK ports have reported an increasing number of internationally-flagged ships with inconsistent adoption of IMO standards in these areas.

BPA chief executive Richard Ballantyne said: “Too often of late, UK ports and their pilots report that visiting ships provide unsafe pilot ladders and we have also seen the continued use of dangerously weighted heaving lines in ports. Both threaten the lives of harbour and towage operatives.”

The International Maritime Pilots Association recently published the results of its annual safety survey which confirmed that defective pilot ladder provision continues to be a problem globally.

“The shipping industry should collectively hang its head in shame over this continued flagrant activity,” said Mr Ballantyne. “It cannot ignore such problems and must show leadership to correct such practices.”