In the statement made by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, it was stated that with the Pilotage Services Safety Directive, which will come into force on July 1, 2024, new regulations have been introduced to ensure world-class security to increase the safety of life and property of pilots and other personnel during the pilotage services provided to ships within our country's maritime jurisdictions.
In the statement made by the Ministry, it was emphasized that with the new regulation, it is mandatory for pilot boats to be equipped with lifesaving materials and equipment suitable for safe rescue from the sea, accepted within the framework of national and international best maritime practices. Preferably manually operated sea recruitment equipment will be equipped. The propulsion systems of the newly built pilot boats will be protected from the propeller in case of a person falling overboard, and the control rooms will also provide vertical visibility. In addition to the number of seafarers specified in the relevant legislation for pilot boats to be equipped with seafarers, they will be equipped with at least one personnel who is qualified as a sailor or oiler. "In addition, in order to increase safety and ensure safe transfer, pilot boats will be equipped with a camera suitable for use in sea conditions, which also captures images at night." It was said.
Wearing a Life Jacket Became Mandatory
In addition to the safety equipment and work clothes specified in the relevant legislation, pilots are required to wear winter or summer life jackets depending on the season for pilots and pilot boat personnel.
"The pilots must be equipped with a collar or helmet camera that does not restrict their mobility and can record all their movements during the transfer at night. Also, shift order and ship traffic management planning is taken into consideration for the Pilots and pilot boat personnel, taking into account the fatigue status and the pilots' seniority and experience. It was made mandatory to do so. "With the regulation, the working and rest hours of the pilots will also be recorded."
Emergency Management Plan for Pilots
While it is stated that it is mandatory for pilots and pilot boat personnel to provide summer or winter life jackets specified in this directive, in case it is determined that the responsibilities are not fulfilled by the Pilots and pilot boat personnel during the transfer, the seafarers and pilots may submit to the Seafarers Disciplinary Commission established within the scope of the Directive. It was emphasized that a provision was made for administrative action to be taken by dispatching the pilot, and within this framework, a 'pilot pilot safe transfer procedure' and an 'emergency management plan' will be created by the pilotage organizations for the land-sea transfer for the pilot.
According to the directive, during the transfer, a personnel other than the pilot boat captain, equipped with the appropriate life jacket and other personal protective equipment, will accompany the pilot for a safe transfer. In the statement made regarding the directive, the pilot boat captain or pilot said; It was underlined that if any non-compliance is detected on the ship's side during the contact of the boat with the ship or before the pilot is transferred to the ship, the transfer should be stopped and the ship's captain should be warned. If non-compliance continues, the transfer will be canceled immediately and, if possible, the non-compliance will be recorded by the pilot with videos and photographs.
A drill will be carried out to rescue a man in case he falls into the sea.
In the directive, it was stated that the shelters of pilots and pilot boat personnel should at least have facilities where the personnel can rest in the best possible way and include first aid equipment. According to the directive; Within the scope of the 'Pilot Pilot Safe Transfer Procedure', other personnel, except for the pilots, will be subjected to a training that will cover all stages from the pilot boat accepting the pilot onto its deck at the shelter pier until its return to the pier, and this training will be renewed at intervals not exceeding 24 months. Pilotage organizations will conduct drills every three months for pilots and other personnel to rescue a person in case of a person falling overboard. All personnel who will work on pilot boats cannot be assigned to the region where they will work without receiving at least two months of on-duty training.
Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, in his evaluation regarding the directive, said, “With the directive, we have introduced new regulations to increase the safety of life and property of pilots and other colleagues during the pilotage services provided to ships in maritime jurisdictions in Turkey. "With our directive, our captains and staff who guide many ships, especially tankers and ships carrying all kinds of dangerous goods, that will approach or leave our ports will have world-class security," he said.
