Importance Of Boarding Ladder And How Is It Important For ship Crew?

History of Ladder

There have been written records of how ancient Hebrew and Egyptian civilizations developed the world’s earliest ladder and perfected it for various functions.

An 8000-year-old cave painting was found drawn during the Epipaleolithic period, which is located at Cuevas de la Araña, eastern Spain. It depicts two people using a thin grass-like ladder to collect honey from a bee’s nest.

Why is the boarding ladder important for the ship crew?

In the past, most of the ship crews used a flexible hanging ladder for access over the side of ships. It consists of vertical ropes or chains supporting horizontal, historically round, and wooden, rungs.

Currently, the boarding ladder is used in ports, at sea, or in anchorage to get crew onboard ships or vice-versa. It is hinged on a platform attached to the side of a ship and which can be positioned to provide access between ship and shore. According to the requirements for safely rigging vessel access equipment in SOLAS regulation, adequate lighting should be provided to illuminate the means of boarding ladders on both sides. At the same time, it shall be well-positioned and avoid the lower part of the ladder and gangway overhanging off steep ship sides.

How can ship crew maintain the boarding ladder for their own safety?

Ship crews should assign a team of people to be in charge of the boarding ladder and ensure that it is functioning. A normal regular check-up must be done.

They must ensure that the embarkation and disembarkation areas should be clear, and cargoes are not to be placed around the place.

A lifejacket and a safety harness must be put on a crew if he or she oversees stowing the boarding ladder.