Korean Register (KR) has issued new technical information to assist the maritime industry in preparing for stricter IMO requirements governing pilot transfer arrangements — the equipment used to safely move pilots on and off vessels. The updated requirements enter into force on January 1, 2028.

KR developed the guidance in collaboration with the Korea Maritime Pilots' Association (KMPA), incorporating pilots' firsthand experience of the hazards involved in boarding vessels at sea. The guidance is the latest in a series of class-society publications designed to bridge the gap between IMO rulemaking and practical shipboard implementation, giving owners and yards time to adapt designs and maintenance programs before mandates take effect.

Pilot transfer arrangements — comprising pilot ladders, handholds, securing points, and winches used to raise and lower the ladder — are critical safety equipment. Because pilots depend entirely on these systems when transferring between a moving pilot boat and a vessel, often in rough seas and limited visibility, even minor design or installation deficiencies can result in serious accidents. Pilot boarding has long been recognized as one of the most hazardous routine operations in maritime shipping, with incidents recurring despite existing SOLAS requirements.

To address these safety concerns, the IMO Maritime Safety Committee adopted amendments to SOLAS Regulation V/23 along with a new mandatory performance standard for pilot transfer arrangements on June 26, 2025, through resolutions MSC.572(110) and MSC.576(110). The amendments draw on accident cases and root-cause analyses compiled by the International Maritime Pilots' Association (IMPA), which has conducted long-running safety campaigns documenting non-compliant pilot ladder setups across the global fleet. The new framework aims to mitigate identified risks and improve the overall reliability of pilot transfer arrangements.

Several key design standards will be strengthened under the revised requirements. The minimum breaking strength for strong points used to secure the pilot ladder will increase, and requirements governing the location of deck handholds will be revised. Additionally, a new minimum diameter requirement will apply to winch reel drums, which must also incorporate a sunken securing point.

The revised design requirements apply to pilot transfer arrangements installed on or after January 1, 2028. For ships with existing arrangements installed before that date, compliance will generally be required by the first survey conducted on or after January 1, 2029. Vessels not certified under SOLAS must comply by January 1, 2030. The staggered timeline reflects the practical reality that fleet-wide retrofits must be phased through planned drydocking cycles.

KR advises shipowners and shipyards to begin reviewing newbuilding specifications and retrofit plans well ahead of the implementation date. Even newbuildings scheduled for delivery before 2028 could require additional modifications shortly after delivery if the revised requirements are not incorporated during the design stage. For in-service vessels, early planning is essential to align necessary modifications with drydocking and survey schedules, thereby minimizing costs and operational disruption.

To facilitate a smooth industry transition, KR's technical information explains the major design changes and additional requirements for in-service vessels through user-friendly illustrations. It also includes a practical checklist to support design reviews and survey preparation, enabling shipowners and shipyards to identify potential compliance issues and required modifications in advance.

"Pilot transfer arrangements are safety equipment directly linked to human life," said Kyungbok Kim, KR's Executive Vice President of the Statutory Division. "We encourage shipyards and shipowners to start reviewing their newbuilding specifications and retrofit plans now so that the strengthened requirements can be incorporated into drydocking and survey schedules with minimal cost and disruption."

Source: Korean Register