Operational Guide · Registers & Logbooks

# Gangway Operations: Safety of the Accommodation Ladder

Every accommodation ladder must show, on both sides, the maximum and minimum angle of use, the design load and the safe working load (SWL): three figures that the watchkeeping crew must know how to read, not just install. From 1 July 2026, whoever rigs it must also wear a lifejacket and a safety harness.

gangway accommodation ladder SOLAS II-1/3-9 MSC.1/Circ.1331 MSC.1/Circ.1331/Rev.1

## Operational Explanation

The accommodation ladder (or gangway) is the main access control point on board, as well as equipment subject to its own risks of falls and structural failure. For ships with accommodation ladders installed or renewed from 1° January 2010, MSC.1/Circ.1331 applies together with SOLAS Regulation II-1/3-9: the ladder must reach the waterline within 600 mm even with the ship in the light service condition and at the maximum angle of use, have complete guardrails along its entire length, and show on both sides the maximum/minimum angle of use, the design load and the safe working load (SWL).

When the ladder extends over the water, safety nets are required. On the security side, the accommodation ladder is also the main access control point required by the Ship Security Plan: all other access points remain closed, a trained watchman staffs the point around the clock, every person going up or down is logged, and identity documents are checked against the visitor list.

MSC.1/Circ.1331/Rev.1 updates the guidelines on the construction, installation, maintenance and inspection/survey of means of embarkation and disembarkation, introducing clearer definitions and, from 1° July 2026, a new operational requirement: crew rigging accommodation ladders and gangways must wear a lifejacket and a safety harness during the operation, not only during subsequent use of the ladder by others.

## Regulatory Reference

SOLAS Regulation II-1/3-9 and MSC.1/Circ.1331: technical requirements for accommodation ladders and gangways installed or renewed from 1° January 2010, including reaching the waterline within 600mm at the maximum angle with the ship at light service draught, complete guardrails, indication of maximum/minimum angle, design load and SWL on both sides, safety nets when the ladder extends over the water. MSC.1/Circ.1331/Rev.1: revision of the guidelines with clearer definitions; from 1° July 2026, obligation for crew to wear a lifejacket and safety harness while rigging ladders and gangways.

## Scope of Application

Every ship fitted with an accommodation ladder/gangway; full technical requirements for ladders installed or renewed from 1° January 2010.

## Procedure / How to Complete It

1. Verify that the accommodation ladder shows on both sides the maximum/minimum angle of use, the design load and the safe working load (SWL).
2. Periodically inspect guardrails, safety nets (when the ladder extends over the water) and the structural integrity of the ladder.
3. Verify that, in actual use, the ladder reaches the waterline within the required limits even in light service condition.
4. Ensure the presence of a trained watchman around the clock at the access point, with logging of every person going up/down per the Ship Security Plan.
5. Keep all other access points to the ship closed while the main accommodation ladder is in use as the sole controlled access.
6. From 1 July 2026, ensure that crew rigging accommodation ladders and gangways always wear a lifejacket and safety harness during the operation.

## Practical Example

Example: before every port call, the officer of the watch verifies that the accommodation ladder is positioned at the correct angle relative to the quay, checks for the presence of safety nets if the ladder extends over the water, confirms that the watchman has the up-to-date list of persons authorised on board, and verifies that the rigging crew wear a lifejacket and harness as required from 1 July 2026.

## Real Cases

Industry P&I guidance flags accommodation ladder and gangway inspections as a recurring onboard check, precisely because falls and failures in this area remain among the most frequent incidents in moving people to/from the ship: a documented periodic inspection, not just a visual check at the time of use, significantly reduces the risk.

## Common Mistakes Mistake Library

Mistake | Consequence | How to avoid it
--- | --- | ---
Accommodation ladder used without verifying that the actual angle falls within the indicated maximum/minimum limits | Structural loading not envisaged by the design, risk of failure | Always verify the actual angle of use against the limits indicated on the ladder before authorising its use
Safety nets not installed when the ladder extends over the water | Risk of falling into the water unprotected in the event of a slip | Always install safety nets when the ladder's configuration requires it
Access logging not carried out systematically by the watchman | Non-compliance with the Ship Security Plan, inability to reconstruct who is on board in an emergency | Maintain a systematic log of every person going up/down, consistent with the authorised visitor list
Crew rigging ladders/gangways without a lifejacket and safety harness from 1 July 2026 | Non-compliance with MSC.1/Circ.1331/Rev.1, exposing crew to fall risk during the most hazardous phase of ladder handling | Update onboard procedures and PPE provisioning to include the lifejacket and harness requirement during rigging

## PSC Observations

PSCOs check the maintenance condition of the accommodation ladder, the presence of the required load/angle markings, the integrity of guardrails and safety nets, and the consistency between the access log and the Ship Security Plan procedures.

## Operational Tips

- Do not trust visual perception of the angle alone: always verify the actual value against the limits indicated on the ladder.
- Treat the accommodation ladder as lifting equipment in every respect, not just as a pedestrian passage: it deserves the same inspection discipline.
- Always coordinate the ladder's structural safety with its role as a security control point: they are two different dimensions of the same critical point.

## Checklist

- Maximum/minimum angle, design load and SWL readable on both sides of the ladder
- Ladder reaches the waterline within the required limits even at light ship condition
- Complete guardrails and safety nets present when required
- Trained watchman present around the clock with an up-to-date access log
- Other access points to the ship kept closed while the main ladder is in use
- From 1 July 2026, lifejacket and safety harness worn by crew during rigging

## FAQ

What must an accommodation ladder compliant with MSC.1/Circ.1331 show?
On both sides: the maximum and minimum angle of use, the design load and the safe working load (SWL).
Within what distance from the waterline must the accommodation ladder reach?
Within 600 mm at its steepest angle, even when the ship is in the light service condition.
Why is the accommodation ladder relevant to security as well as structural safety?
Because it is typically the only access point kept open under the Ship Security Plan, with all other openings closed, a dedicated watchman and logging of every person going up/down.
What changes with the Rev.1 of MSC.1/Circ.1331 from 1 July 2026?
Crew rigging accommodation ladders and gangways must wear a lifejacket and a safety harness during the operation, in addition to the clearer definitions introduced in the guidelines.
🎬 Additional photos, videos and interactive diagrams for this topic will be available in a future version of the platform.

## Related Topics

Ship Security Plan and the ISPS Code Tender Operations: Service Boats for Passenger Transfer

### Leave feedback

Help us improve the platform during the beta -- it takes thirty seconds.

How useful do you find the platform so far?
Comment (optional)
Sign me up for the newsletter
Role