Trap door combination pilot ladders aren't popular with pilots. The main reason for this is that many of the trapdoor pilot ladder arrangements found on older vessels tend to be non-compliant with modern regulations, difficult to use and as we have seen all to often potentially dangerous to use.

In 2019 Captain Denins Sherwood, a Sandy Hook pilot, tragically lost his life in a pilot trasfer accident involving such an arrangement. His death threw a spotlight on trapdoor pilot transfer arrangements and the dangers they present.

Having hauled ourselves through many of these trapdoor arrangements (and refused many such arrangements) we know the issues pilots face when trying to navigate their way through such an arrangement.

The first issue is the aperture itself.  The regulations require the minimum size of the trapdoor aperture to be no less than 750mm x 750mm. THIS IS A MINIMUM not a target although many naval archetects seem to have used it as such. Pilots in colder climates are often climbing wearing several layers and bulky pilot coats or cold weather coats with a lifejacket on top. This means 750mm x 750mm is not a huge space through which to climb when encumbered with such equipment and clothing.

Secondly is the lack of securing of the trapdoor. The regulations state the trapdoor when open it must be secured