The accommodation ladder is a one point access to ship’s deck for shore personal, cargo crew and seafarers. Just like any other deck equipment, the accommodation ladder is used in port, at sea, or in anchorage for getting pilot or crew onboard ship or vice-versa.

Accommodation ladders mainly consist of ladder frame, turning ladder device, upper platform, lower platform(bottom platform), shackle device, wood fender, support, post device, steel rope, rail stanchion, handrail and accommodation ladder winch etc. Proper use of an accommodation ladder not only increase lifespan of ladder but also for safety of user, so how to operate and how to maintenance it? below with all details for your study:

Part one: Rigging of accommodation ladder:

1. Ensure the worker has done all important PPE’s including life jacket and safety harness

2. Remove lashing from the accommodation ladder which is used to tie it up in stowed position, then seperated the firm hook from the ladder frame hole.

3. Electricity power supply to accommodation laddeer winch, starting the winch, depends on the weight of winch itself，ladder and turning ladder arm leave bulkwark and turn to outboard, when turning ladder arm tuning and keep to be horizontal with its support seat, then stop turning, now accomodation ladder have totally turn to the outboard and in horizontal position. Accommodation ladder leave turning arm and descent, when it far away from turning arm about 1.5M, then winch stop working.

4. Workers install the rail stanchion of upper platform, handrails, middle rail rope/chains, as per the requirement adjust the angle of platform, and also install well lower platform rail stanchion and rail ropes.

5. Workers leave the ladder, start the winch, when the ladder descent to the required position, stop the winch.

Part two: Hoisting and stowing of accommodation ladder:

1.Ensure the worker has done all important PPE’s including life jacket and safety harness

2.Starting the winch, when the ladder reaches up to 1.5m height away from the turning ladder devices, stop the winch. The workers store all of the rails of upper and lower platform and the middle ropes/chain/safety net, fold the handrails from both side of the ladder, adjust the lower platform to the horizontal store position.

3.The workers leave the ladder, start the winch to rise the ladder, when the rubber seat collide to the davit arm, stop the winch and cut off power.

4. Fasten the lashing of the accommodation ladder, and tight the butterfuly bolts with ladder frame.

Part three: Maintenance and safe operation

It is very important to continuously monitor and perform regular planned maintenance on the accommodation ladder. The general maintenance, which needs to be performed are:

1. Specially-assigned person must be put in charge of the accommodation ladder and the turning ladder device to guarantce it is function, normally regular check up must be done.

2. General inspection of ladder, platforms, lashing, wire and permanent fixtures.

3. All greasing points must be greased regularly with seawater resistant grease which will include:

various hoisting sheaves on the ladder, hoisting sheaves on davit arm, hoisting sheaves on steel structure, wire ropes.

4. To check regularly for screw of joining part, stop plate to prevent any loose for safety.