B SAFE Onboard Safety BSAFE INCIDENT CASE STUDY 19: FATAL ACCIDENT DURING PILOT TRANSFER Published: 13 June 2023 AN INCIDENT ON A 2,825 GT GENERAL CARGO SHIP RESULTED IN THE FATALITY OF A SEA PILOT DURING A ROUTINE PILOT TRANSFER AS THE VESSEL WAS OUTBOUND. Figure 1 Cargo Vessel image Source MARINE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION BRANCH – GOV. UK: ANNUAL REPORT 21/2017 Figure 2 PILOT LAUNCH Source MARINE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION BRANCH – GOV. UK: ANNUAL REPORT 21/2017 WHAT HAPPENED The river pilot had boarded the vessel at berth by stepping on to the main deck of the general cargo vessel via an open deck gate. An instruction was then given to rig the port side pilot ladder to prepare for the sea pilot boarding further down river. The vessel then departed from berth. After about two hours the vessel was approaching Gravesend Reach on an easterly course at a speed of about 10.4 knots. The cargo vessel was put on manual hand steering and the speed was reduced to 6-7 knots in preparation for the sea pilot boarding. The pilot launch boat then came alongside with its starboard bow resting against the vessel’s hull just forward of the pilot ladder and in line with the deck gate. The vessel and pilot launch boat agreed to postpone the transfer until an inbound vessel had passed. Subsequently the vessel manoeuvred to create lee for the pilot launch to approach. As the wave height was about 2 metres the freeboard between the two vessels varied between 30cm to 130cm as the vessels moved up and down.   Figure 3 REPRODUCED IMAGE OF PILOT LAUNCH ALONGSIDE CARGO VESSEL Source MARINE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION BRANCH – GOV.UK: ANNUAL REPORT 21/2017 The sea pilot decided to grab hold of the deck gate’s upright stanchion with both his hands in an effort to lift his right foot across onto the cargo vessel’s deck but, when trying to step up and cross over to the cargo vessel, the pilot launch plunged into a trough in the seas. As a result, the pilot was left hanging by his arms. The deck hand on