New IMO requirements for pilot transfer arrangements
The new mandatory performance standards introduce changes to the design and operational requirements for pilot transfer arrangements, including those already installed onboard ships in operation. Achieving compliance with the new requirements may necessitate modification of e.g. securing points, winch reels or stanchions/handholds, which may involve hot work, or, in some cases, more extensive alterations. More details in this statutory news.
Information for: Design offices, shipyards, suppliers, manufacturers, owners/managers, and flag states.
Introduction
In June 2025, the 110th session of the IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 110) adopted amendments to SOLAS Regulation V/23 (resolution MSC.572(110)) and the associated new performance standards for pilot transfer arrangements (resolution MSC.576(110)) to ensure safe arrangements for pilots and other personnel embarking and disembarking ships in all conditions of draught and trim.
Timeline
Pilot transfer arrangements installed on or after 1 January 2028 shall be designed, manufactured, constructed, secured, and installed in accordance with the new performance standards.
For SOLAS ships, pilot transfer arrangements installed before 1 January 2028, compliance with the new performance standards shall be verified no later than at the first survey on or after 1 January 2029. This means that the design, manufacturing, construction, securing, and installation shall comply with the new performance standards by this date. For non-SOLAS ships, this applies retroactively from the first survey on or after 1 January 2030.
The requirements for inspection, stowage, maintenance, replacement, and familiarization of all pilot transfer arrangements will enter into force on 1 January 2028, regardless of the installation date.
Summary of timeline:
Consequences to design, installation and maintenance
Most notably, pilot transfer arrangements installed on or after 1 January 2028 shall be designed, constructed, secured, and installed in accordance with the introduction section and parts A, B, and C of the new mandatory performance standards.
The requirements will apply retroactively to existing arrangements installed before 1 January 2028 and may entail physical modifications. It is therefore advisable for ship managers to evaluate the level of compliance and plan for potential modifications, which may need to be completed during a yard stay, as early as possible, to be ready for the onboard survey due at the first scheduled attendance after 1 January 2029. Certain essential changes from the previous pilot transfer requirements are summarized in Appendix 1.
Plan approval is offered on request through the My Services portal. Plan approval is recommended for modifications to complex arrangements or in case of considerable modifications to existing arrangements. Also, if consideration of the arrangement using the Guidance for Managers mentioned later in this news and IMO Resolution MSC.576(110) leaves doubt whether the arrangement is fully compliant, plan approval is advised. DATE may also be consulted if in doubt whether plans should be submitted for approval.
Effective from 1 January 2028, all pilot transfer arrangements, regardless of their installation date, shall be stowed, maintained, inspected, and operated in accordance with parts D and E of the same performance standards.
To reflect the IMO amendments, the illustration of pilot transfer arrangements as contained in MSC.1/Circ.1428/Rev.1 (also known as the IMPA poster) has been updated (see appendix 2). The IMPA poster should, however, not be entirely relied upon for the design or approval of pilot transfer arrangements.
Certificates
The forms of records of equipment annexed to relevant safety certificates in SOLAS, HSC Codes, and the SPS Code will after 1 January 2028 be revised to include the entry of pilot transfer arrangements as follows:
- Pilot ladder and manropes
- Spare pilot ladder and manropes
- Means of securing a pilot ladder at intermediate length.
A Statement of Compliance may be used to document a satisfactory verification survey result until the revised records of equipment can be re-issued from 1 January 2028, and latest by the first survey on or after 1 January 2029.
Implications
The following retroactive requirement (RR) will be imposed to DNV classed vessels:
RR ref.1088:
Not later than the first SOLAS equipment survey on or after 2029-01-01 [or alternatively 2030-01-01, ref. timeline above] the pilot transfer arrangements shall comply with SOLAS Regulation V/23 as amended by resolution MSC.572(110) and the associated new Performance Standards for pilot transfer arrangements (resolution MSC.576(110)).
To be ready for the onboard survey due at the first scheduled attendance after 1 January 2029, ship owners and managers are encouraged to evaluate the level of compliance for the vessels in their fleet and plan for potential modifications, as early as possible, DNV’s guidance document “Pilot Transfer Arrangement (PTA) Guidance for Managers” (document code PIL 901), available for download for DNV clients, can be used as a supplement to IMO resolution MSC.576(110) when performing the assessment.
If plan approval is requested, supplementary information about this process will be added to a separate RR in the Class status/Vessel list in the My Services Portal. Similarly, if surveyor’s inspection concludes that load testing of undocumented strong points’ minimum breaking load (MBL) must be carried out, information about this will be added to an RR in the My Services Portal. Once all requirements - except for those applicable to the pilot ladders, means of securing at intermediate lengths and manropes - have been verified to be in accordance with MSC.576(110), a statement of compliance can be issued by the surveyor. RR ref.1088 will then be closed and replaced by a new RR in the Class status, informing that the SOLAS equipment certificate can be updated with the revised Record of Equipment following verification of the pilot ladders, manropes, and means of securing at intermediate lengths.
Prepare early
Early preparation is critical as to ensure compliance by the stated due dates. The following guidance may be helpful:
Recommendations
The amendments described in the newsletter bring changes to the design and operational requirements for pilot transfer arrangements, including those already installed. Ship owners, ship managers, shipyards and designers should plan early to ensure that compliant arrangements will be in place by the required due date.
