Pilot fall from AAL Dampier led to profitable prosecution of the vessel’s grasp and its working firm [Photo: AMSA]
Pilot falls — and defective pilot ladders — proceed to be a trigger for concern. Now the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) says it has secured a win for pilot security, following the profitable prosecution of a grasp and firm within the Perth Magistrates Court on May 23, 2023.
The prosecution was introduced after an incident on August 24 during which a pilot was injured when disembarking the Cyprus-flagged cargo ship AAL Dampier because it was departing the Port of Fremantle.
While departing the AAL Dampier through the pilot ladder, the ropes parted, inflicting the pilot to fall roughly 7 meters onto the deck of the pilot vessel, which was touring alongside the ship.
The pilot vessel urgently transported the pilot to hospital for remedy for critical accidents.
AMSA inspectors and specialist investigators boarded the vessel and seized a portion of the pilot ladder ropes, which had been later discovered to be severely faulty and in a poor state.
“The shocking condition of the ropes was likely due to inappropriate storage and ineffective inspection maintenance procedures,” says AMSA.
The vessel proprietor. AAL Dampier Navigation Co Ltd, (part of the AAL Group) pleaded responsible to an offense below Marine Order 21 (Safety and Emergency Arrangements) 2016 for failing to make sure pilot switch preparations in place had been in accordance with the related laws and was fined AUD 30,500 (about US $20,000).
The grasp of the vessel pleaded responsible to 2 offenses, one below Marine Order 21 (Safety and Emergency Arrangements) 2016 for failing to make sure the disembarkation of a pilot was carried out in accordance with the related laws and one below the Navigation Act 2012 for taking an unseaworthy vessel to sea, and was fined a complete of AUD 5,500 (about US$ 3,600).
AMSA Executive Director of Operations Michael Drake mentioned he hoped the conviction would deter different vessels from compromising on marine pilot security.
“Marine pilots have a critical and high-risk job, even in the best of conditions, and it is imperative that vessels meet safety standards to prevent serious injury,” he mentioned.
