We are saddened to learn of a fatality which occured durring the pilot tranfer in the North Sea near Ijmuiden.

A crew member of the pilot boat became trapped between the pilot boat and the vessel when the pilot boat came alongside a seagoing vessel in order to complete pilot transfer operations. 

The pilot ladder fatality occurred when the unnamed 40-year-old male victim, believed to be a member of the pilot boat crew, became trapped between a pilot boat and the cargo vessel. It is understood that whilst originaly concious his injuries were too severe and despite the best efforts of all onboard he later died.

This serves to underline that even in one of the best trained and equiped pilotage districts in the world such accidents are all to common. 

We pass our sincere condolonces to our Dutch colleages and to the crew members family. We know all too well the pain that such incidents cause.

The Dutch Safety Board has started an investigation into pilot ladder accident.