Technical Circular No: 022/2026
1. The Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), at its 110th session (MSC 110), adopted amendment to SOLAS Chapter V, Regulation 23 concerning pilot transfer arrangements (Res MSC.572 (110)) and "Performance Standards for Pilot Transfer Arrangements" (Res MSC.576(110)).
2. The following requirements shall apply:
a) Pilot transfer arrangements installed on or after 1 January 2028 (see Note below) shall be designed, manufactured, constructed, secured and installed in accordance with the Introduction and Parts A, B and C of the Performance Standards adopted by the MSC through Resolution MSC.576(110).
b) Pilot transfer arrangements installed before 1 January 2028 on ships to which SOLAS chapter I applies shall comply with the requirements specified in paragraph 2(a) above not later than the first Safety Equipment survey (Annual/ Intermediate/ Renewal) on or after 1 January 2029.
Non-SOLAS ships shall comply with these requirements not later than the first survey on or after 1 January 2030.
c) Inspection, stowage, maintenance, replacement and familiarization of all pilot transfer arrangements, regardless of the installation date, shall comply with the Introduction and Parts D and E of the Performance Standards adopted by the MSC by Resolution MSC.576(110).
d) Pilot transfer arrangements covered under paragraph 2(a) above shall be approved by the Administration in accordance with Part F of the Performance Standards adopted by the MSC by Resolution MSC.576(110).
Note: The expression "installed on or after 1 January 2028" means a contractual delivery date for the pilot transfer arrangement or, in the absence of a contractual delivery date, the actual delivery date of the arrangement to the ship on or after 1 January 2028.
3. Shipowners, managers and Masters are advised to take note of these new mandatory requirements, which introduce changes to the design, installation and operational requirements for pilot transfer arrangements, including arrangements already installed on board ships in operation.
4. Compliance with the new requirements may necessitate modifications to existing arrangements, including securing points, winch reels, stanchions and handholds. Such modifications may involve hot work or, in some cases, more extensive alterations. Accordingly, ships scheduled to enter dry dock before 1 January 2029 are advised to assess the modifications required and plan the necessary work in advance to ensure timely compliance. The relevant modification drawings shall be submitted for approval, where required, before the modifications are carried out.
5. Shipowners, managers and shipyards are further advised to review their newbuilding specifications and retrofit plans well in advance of the applicable implementation dates to ensure compliance with the revised requirements.
Enclosure:
This Technical Circular and the material contained in it is provided only for the purpose of supplying current information to the reader and not as an advice to be relied upon by any person. While we have taken utmost care to be as factual as possible, readers/ users are advised to verify the exact text and content of the Regulation from the original source/ issuing Authority.