Pilbara Ports Authority has set out safe access requirements for accommodation ladders that are suspended rather than landed on the quay, replacing its earlier notice.
Pilbara Ports Authority in Western Australia has issued Local Marine Notice D19-2026 on safe ship-to-shore access, dated 14 August 2026. It applies to every vessel calling at Pilbara Ports and pays particular attention to accommodation ladders that are suspended rather than landed on the quay or another suitable structure.
Requirements for suspended ladders
- Planned maintenance is current and can be verified.
- The ladder is rigged to the vessel's approved arrangements and the applicable standards.
- Access is monitored and adjusted for tide, draught, weather and vessel movement.
- Lighting, lifebuoys and safety nets are provided where required.
- The risks of rigging, adjusting, inspecting and removing the ladder are assessed and controlled through the Safety Management System.
Secondary means of support
The new notice replaces Local Marine Notice D13-2026, which would have required a class-approved secondary means of support by 1 January 2027. That is no longer mandatory, but a vessel that does use one must be able to show that class has approved or verified it. Officers may ask for evidence such as maintenance and inspection records, risk assessments, manufacturer instructions or photographs of the rigged arrangement.