Operational Guide · Registers & Logbooks

# Pilot Transfer Arrangements: The New SOLAS V/23 Performance Standard

The pilot ladder is no longer just a technical requirement in the text of the regulation: MSC 110 moves it into a new, standalone mandatory performance standard, with a long implementation timeline that nonetheless needs planning now.

pilot transfer SOLAS V/23 MSC 110 pilot ladder

## Operational Explanation

The Maritime Safety Committee 110 adopted amendments to SOLAS Regulation V/23 together with a new mandatory performance standard dedicated to pilot transfer arrangements. All the technical requirements previously contained directly in the text of Regulation V/23 are moved into this new standalone standard, a structural change reflecting growing international attention to the safety of pilot embarkation/disembarkation, an operation that remains among the riskiest in shipboard life.

The reorganisation is not a mere formal exercise: separating the performance standard from the text of the Convention allows faster future technical updates, without having to amend the Regulation itself every time. For the crew and the Company, the practical point is timing: entry into force 1 January 2028 for devices installed from that date, with compliance required for existing devices by the first survey due after 1 January 2029.

## Regulatory Reference

SOLAS Regulation V/23 (amended by MSC 110) and the new Performance Standard for Pilot Transfer Arrangements: the technical requirements are moved from the text of the Regulation to a standalone standard. In force from 1 January 2028 for new installations; compliance for existing installations required by the first survey due after 1 January 2029.

## Scope of Application

Every ship subject to SOLAS fitted with pilot transfer arrangements (pilot ladder, combination ladder, hoisting mechanism); differentiated application between new installations (from 2028) and existing ones (compliance by the first survey due after 2029).

## Procedure / How to Complete It

1. Monitor publication of the consolidated text of the new performance standard, distinct from the text of Regulation V/23.
2. For newly built ships with delivery from 2028, verify that the pilot transfer arrangements supplied already comply with the new standard.
3. For existing ships, plan compliance verification of the devices in good time in view of the first survey due after 1 January 2029, avoiding leaving it until close to the deadline.
4. In the meantime, maintain full application of the currently applicable requirements of Regulation V/23, which remain valid until the transition.
5. Train the deck crew on the technical specifications of the new standard as soon as published, distinguishing them from those currently in use.

## Practical Example

Example: a Company with several units under construction for delivery after 2028 requests written confirmation from the shipyard that the pilot transfer arrangements supplied will comply with the new performance standard, rather than only with the current version of Regulation V/23.

## Real Cases

Pilot embarkation and disembarkation operations remain, per recurring marine insurance sector data, among the highest-risk activities for serious or fatal injury to the personnel involved: the decision to dedicate an entire standalone performance standard, rather than simply updating the text of the Regulation, reflects the IMO's intent to be able to update technical requirements more responsively as best practice evolves.

## Common Mistakes Mistake Library

Mistake | Consequence | How to avoid it
--- | --- | ---
New construction for delivery from 2028 planned without specifying compliance with the new performance standard to the shipyard | Devices compliant only with the old version of Regulation V/23, to be upgraded later at additional cost | Explicitly specify compliance with the new standard in new-construction contracts for deliveries from 2028
Compliance verification planning for existing devices postponed until close to the first survey due after 2029 | Risk of non-compliance found at survey with little time to correct it | Plan compliance verification with adequate lead time before the survey window

## PSC Observations

Until the new standard enters into force, PSCOs continue to verify the compliance of pilot transfer arrangements against the currently applicable text of Regulation V/23; from 2028/2029, verification will progressively extend to the requirements of the new performance standard.

## Operational Tips

- Follow publication of the consolidated text of the new performance standard: the implementation timeline is long (2028-2029) but it is worth planning ahead, especially for new construction.
- For existing ships, don't wait for the 2029 deadline: verify device compliance with a safety margin before the first survey due.
- In new-construction contracts for delivery from 2028, explicitly specify compliance with the new standard, not just with the currently applicable Regulation V/23.

## Checklist

- Publication of the consolidated text of the new performance standard monitored
- For new construction with delivery from 2028, compliance with the new standard specified in contracts
- For existing ships, compliance verification planned in view of the first survey due after 2029
- Currently applicable requirements of Regulation V/23 kept fully applied in the meantime
- Deck crew informed of the ongoing regulatory transition

## FAQ

What changes with the MSC 110 amendments to Regulation V/23?
The technical requirements for pilot transfer arrangements are moved from the text of the Regulation into a new standalone performance standard, which can be updated more quickly in future without having to amend the Convention.
Since when does the new standard apply?
From 1 January 2028 for devices installed from that date; for existing devices, compliance is required by the first survey due after 1 January 2029.
Do the current requirements of Regulation V/23 remain valid in the meantime?
Yes, they remain fully valid and applicable until the transition to the new performance standard is complete.
🎬 Additional photos, videos and interactive diagrams for this topic will be available in a future version of the platform.

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