Safe access and suspended accommodation ladders
Applicability: All vessel types; apply the equipment and operational conditions stated in this entry.
What is being checked
Boarding access is safely rigged for the berth and monitored.
Ready on board
0 / 9 checkedCheck the vessel’s actual procedures, equipment and records against these points from RISQ 3.2.
Practice questions
Preparation prompts derived from this entry, not an official inspector interview script.
1Is a suspended accommodation ladder automatically a finding?
No. The PDF explicitly says not to record a finding where its specified mitigation measures are implemented and verified, and applicable rules permit the arrangement.
2What extra evidence is needed for a brow?
Specific risk assessment, approval/fitness evidence, inspected platform pins, secure positioning, angle compliance and the required rails/net/signage.
Where a finding may arise
The source explicitly excludes a finding solely because the ladder is suspended/floating when all relevant safeguards are implemented and verified. Unsafe rigging, missing safeguards or prohibited use remain concerns assessed here.
Editorial background reading. Inspection requirements remain those of the cited RISQ entry.
Past observations for practice
Anonymised reports, manually reviewed before publication. These are reported experiences, not additional inspection requirements.
No reviewed observations have been added for this entry.
Share an observation for private review
Remove vessel, company and inspector names, report numbers, exact dates and confidential information. Do not paste a complete inspection report.
Source clarification
The PDF also refers readers to a linked RightShip safe-access publication. This entry uses only the requirements actually present in the attached PDF.
References and source status
RightShip Inspection Ship Questionnaire, November 2025, version 3.2. Section 4, page 63–64, reference 4.35.
The explanation, checklist and practice answer derive from the supplied questionnaire. Reported observations are separately contributed and manually reviewed; they are not official RISQ guidance.
Independent DeepDraft preparation guide, based on the supplied RISQ 3.2 questionnaire. Not an official RightShip product or inspection report.