Loss Prevention Advice
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The United Kingdom Maritime Pilots’ Association has launched a new interactive educational tool designed to improve understanding and compliance with the newly revised SOLAS Regulation V/23 for pilot transfers.
The new tool, accessible online as an interactive poster, delivers a visual practical guidance to stakeholders involved in Pilot Transfer Arrangements (PTAs), aiming to support safer boarding operations across the global fleet.
The launch of the interactive poster follows the IMO Maritime Safety Committee’s adoption of updated performance standards for PTAs (MSC 110, June 2025), which now require that non-compliant arrangements must be reported and not used until rectified—a critical shift in accountability for both pilots and ship crew.
A critical issue at scale
As stated, every year, approximately 100,000 trading vessels call at UK ports – the equivalent to nearly 300 vessels every single day, or one every five minutes. These vessels arrive 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, requiring safe, efficient pilot transfer arrangements at all hours and in all weather conditions.
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The hazards and key recommendations to mitigate the risks surrounding manual sweeping operations in the vegetable oil and animal fat trades, where high cargo temperatures, enclosed space entry, and physically demanding conditions expose crew to significant safety threats.
Vegetable oils and animal fats are characterized by their high viscosity and elevated pour points, making them prone to solidify under ambient conditions. To ensure efficient discharge, the cargo temperature is maintained well above its pour point that can sometimes reach 70°C. Additional measures are also often taken to optimize cargo discharge, such as continuous recirculation of the heated cargo.
To maximize the amount of cargo discharged and minimize the quantity remaining on board (ROB), manual sweeping of the cargo is generally performed during the final stages of the discharge. Sweeping, sometimes also referred to as “squeezing” or “squeegeeing,” involves physically pushing the residue towards the pump suction. The task is labour-intensive, hazardous and can substantially increase crew workload.
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Between May 2024 and April 2025, BSEE has identified slips, trips and falls (STFs) as the leading cause of injuries on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), prompting a Performance-Based Risk Inspection (PBRI) across 19 offshore assets.
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) has identified a potential risk associated with slips, trips and falls (STFs) across the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) between May 2024 and April 2025. During this period, 22% of all injuries reported to BSEE were attributed to STFs, surpassing lifting-related injuries for the first time in recent years. These STF injuries were often severe, resulting in major injuries defined as three or more days away from work, restricted work, or job transfer.
In response to the rise in operator and contractor injuries, BSEE initiated a Performance-Based Risk Inspection (PBRI). The inspection covered 19 assets, including production platforms and well operations, across the Gulf. These assets were operated by 17 unique operators.
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Navigating Chinese coastal waters presents significant challenges due to the extensive presence of fishery farms, which pose ongoing risks for vessels, Skuld Club has underscored.
A recent updates from local correspondents identify critical areas where fishery farm claims commonly arise and provide guidance to ensure safer navigation for ships calling at Chinese ports.
Key locations and risks
Fishery farms are prevalent near Dalian, Tianjin, Yantai, Laizhou, Rizhao, Lanshan, Penglai, Longkou, Weihai, Ningde, and Kemen.