Ned Marine tackles ongoing pilot ladder safety risks with Drewil deal
Despite years of regulatory attention, unsafe pilot ladders remain one of the most persistent causes of fatal accidents among mariners.
According to the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), more than 400 pilot transfer incidents were reported in 2022 alone, with poor ladder condition and improper rigging accounting for nearly half. Investigators describe the issue as “low tech but high risk” — a single worn rope or incorrect shackle can turn a routine transfer into a deadly fall.
Against that backdrop, Dutch maritime supplier Ned Marine Services has announced an exclusive distribution agreement with Drewil Entership, a Polish manufacturer of certified pilot and embarkation ladders.
Under the deal, Ned Marine will represent Drewil across the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Germany, and Norway, expanding its access solutions portfolio to include Drewil’s ISO 799-2019, SOLAS, DNV, and IMO-certified products.
The move aligns with industry calls for higher-quality, compliant ladders to replace the substandard equipment still found aboard many vessels. Ned Marine, based in Ridderkerk, is known for its in-house design and manufacture of aluminum gangways, land bridges, and access systems, along with its cathodic protection and non-destructive testing services worldwide.
“Based on several meetings and discussions we’ve had with pilots working in the Dutch vicinity of the North Sea, we know of accidents and near misses where lives were in danger,” said Leo Zwagemaker, Sales & Marketing manager at Ned Marine. “It’s still a problem that pilot ladders are sold with no or limited view on safety requirements. With Drewil Entership’s ladders, we comply fully with international standards.
“It’s a good thing that the IMO recently has announced that a new ‘SOLAS rule’ will be in place from Jan 1st 2028, which ‘establishes mandatory requirements for the safe design, construction, rigging, installation and maintenance of pilot transfer arrangements (PTAs)’.”
By securing exclusive rights to distribute Drewil’s ladders, Ned Marine aims to make certified products readily available from stock, helping shipowners and ports tackle one of maritime safety’s most preventable risks.
