Call for action following Humber pilot’s death

The United Kingdom Maritime Pilots’ Association (UKMPA) is calling for action following the death of a pilot in the Humber Estuary, UK, last week (8 January 2022).

Experienced maritime pilot Francesco Galia died whilst transferring from a transfer boat to a large ocean-going vessel.

“This tragedy highlights the risks and challenges faced by maritime pilots every day they go to work,” the UKMPA says in a statement. “They are responsible for safely navigating ships in and out of ports and harbours, often under complex and hazardous conditions, transferring from one vessel to another by nothing more than a rope ladder. This is always a risky procedure.

“We urge the maritime industry and regulatory authorities, once again, to prioritise safety and training with regard to the transfer of pilots and crew, and to invest in safe and reliable technologies and procedures to ensure that our maritime pilots and seafarers return home safe after every voyage.”

The cause of the accident is now being investigated by the MAIB (Marine Accident Investigation Branch).

Image courtesy of ABP.