Redefining Pilot Ladder Safety
JORIS J. STUIP, PTR HOLLAND® GROUP, TALKS HOW INNOVATION, QUALITY, AND SUSTAINABILITY IS REDEFINING PILOT LADDER SAFETY
PTR HOLLAND® GROUP’s commitment to innovation, quality, and sustainability is redefining pilot ladder safety. By leading in technology, supporting industry education, and tackling counterfeit equipment, the company continues to set new benchmarks for maritime safety worldwide.
Innovation is a key factor in the success of any business, setting apart those that lead industries and those that follow. It sets and raises industry standards, underpins competitiveness, and is pivotal to long-term economic viability. In short, it is the lifeblood of commerce.
For PTR HOLLAND® GROUP, it is endemic, woven into the fabric of how the organisation operates – and as Vice President Global Joris J. Stuip says, it’s kept them ahead to the pack. “We were the first large scale manufacturer that adopted the mechanical seizing method (1982) for rope ladders, a system that has been copied by our competitors but never matched,” he says.
“We were also the first manufacturer to introduce the QR code blockchain database for our pilot ladders that allows pilots and inspectors to quickly ensure the authenticity of our pilot ladders.
“At the moment we are looking into how we can improve the way pilot ladders are secured to make it easier for the crew and safer for the pilot. This means that in the short term we have developed a new standard in pilot ladder securing ropes that are both super easy to work with but provide amazing levels of grip and in the long term we are developing a mechanical fool proof system for securing ladders that will hopefully set new standards in pilot ladder safety.”
It is clear that PTR sees itself as more than just a manufacturer, which goes a long way to explaining its success. With a long history in maritime safety, its influence is both far reaching and influential. It has sought to improve standards through pilot association seminars, safety events and forums.
It has received awards and forged partnerships and continued to shape the way the industry uses and thinks about pilot ladders. But as Joris explains, they wouldn’t
have had it any other way.
“With us it’s personal. We take a significant amount of pride in ensuring everything we produce is of the highest standard. Most recently we’ve created a close link with Fathom Safety, a pilot run training and asset management service.
At the moment we are looking into how we can improve the way pilot ladders are secured to make it easier for the crew and safer for the pilot. This means that in the short term we have developed a new standard in pilot ladder securing ropes that are both super easy to work with but provide amazing levels of grip
“They’re aiming to create greater safety through education and better management of pilot ladder equipment. For us that is at the core of our company mission. We’re
constantly working with pilot organisations, vessel technical departments, vetting and authorities for the improvement and evolutions of safety at sea equipment, procedure, and regulations.
“We try not only to set standards, but to raise them too.” In that respect, PTR HOLLAND® GROUP has faced arguably its biggest challenges. Joris says that, at the moment, there’s a huge amount of counterfeit and low-quality ladders flooding the market. It is a familiar story – every week a new manufacturer enters the market, selling dangerous and poorquality ladders, hoping to entice procurement departments by offering ‘lethal’ equipment at knock down prices.
“It’s an incredibly difficult issue to combat as the problem only comes to light when pilot’s (hopefully) spot these dangerous ladders,” he says. “That’s why we are working hard with pilots, regulators, and our partner companies to increase awareness and education on the issue.”
There is, however, some light at the end of the tunnel. A major overhaul of SOLAS due in the near future will look to combine the multiple regulatory documents for regulation into a single comprehensive regulation. “This is a giant leap forward in ensuring greater pilot safety and a change PTR HOLLAND® GROUP fully endorses.”
Despite the challenges, Joris adds that PTR HOLLAND® GROUP continues to push forward on all fronts. Sustainability, for example, is axiomatic to its work and is at the heart of everything it does. Joris says that the company’s supply chain is carefully monitored to ensure that components have a minimal environmental impact – sing FSC approved timber for its ladders, for example.
“That FSC stamp of approval means the timber has been harvested from well managed forests that protect both the animals that rely upon them and the people who live around them. Additionally, we were recently requested to join the zero-harm innovation program from RIGHTSHIP that we are very proud of being part of to say the least. As with everything, we’re always trying to innovate, to do more.”
In that respect, the future is very much about capitalising on growth and continuing to set the standard within the industry. In the last few years, the company has expanded and now has several new manufacturing facilities – including sites in the Netherlands, USA, Singapore and UK.
“We have recently expanded our US operations significantly as well as increasing our ‘stock point’ network throughout the world to ensure our customers can always access our top-quality products,” Joris adds.
“We will look to increase these over the coming years to ensure we can reduce the amount of shipping miles our equipment needs before arriving to the end user and reduce our carbon footprint even further.
We have recently expanded our US operations significantly as well as increasing our ‘stock point’ network throughout the world to ensure our customers can always access our top-quality products.
“Beyond that we will of course continue with our philanthropic activities to support pilot safety, education and reduce the prevalence of dangerous ladders to ensure everyone goes home safe at the end of the day.”
PTR HOLLAND® GROUP’s dedication to innovation, quality, and safety has kept it at the forefront of the maritime industry. By combining technical leadership with responsible sourcing and global expansion, the company continues to set and raise standards.
Through partnerships, education, and active engagement with regulators, PTR HOLLAND® GROUP reinforces its mission to protect pilots and crews worldwide, ensuring safer operations at sea and upholding its reputation as a trusted leader in maritime safety.
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