Ensuring safe transfers of pilots

Transferring pilots while underway is a high‑risk operation. Despite regulation and standard operating procedures used by ports, pilotage providers, and ships’ crews, maritime pilots in New Zealand still face risks to their health and safety when transferring on and off ships.

The guidance linked on this page provides advice about:

Pilot transfer arrangements
PDF: 22 MB, 55 pages
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Pilot transfer arrangements introductory guidance note 2025
PDF: 1.64 MB, 5 pages
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Pilot ladder guidance
PDF: 431 kB, 4 pages
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Stakeholders who will find this guidance useful include pilots, ships’ masters, ships’ owners and operators, ships’ agents, port companies, harbour authorities, marine managers, Maritime NZ marine officers and Port State Control inspectors.

Related Maritime NZ technical clarifications 

Having the conduct of the ship – clarification of what is meant when the pilot has conduct of the ship
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Health and safety during pilot transfers
PDF: 299.63 KB, 3 pages
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