According to a statement released by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), at about 02:50 on February 11 (Singapore time), the MPA Marine Safety Control Centre was alerted that a harbour pilot from PSA Marine (PSAM) had fallen overboard while disembarking from a tugboat to board a PSAM launch boat in waters off Southern Islands.
The pilot was wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident.
MPA, the Police Coast Guard, and the Singapore Civil Defence Force immediately deployed patrol and emergency response craft to the scene to conduct search and rescue operations. MPA also activated divers to conduct underwater search for the missing pilot and issued navigational safety broadcasts to the surrounding vessels to support the search efforts.
However, at about 11:30, the body of the pilot was recovered and conveyed to PCG Brani Base. Investigations are ongoing.
It’s the second incident this year, with the last one occurring on January 8 when a UK ship pilot died following an accident during pilot transfer in northern England’s Humber estuary.
The pilot was transferring from a pilot transfer boat to a large ocean-going vessel.
In a third incident this year, not involving a pilot but which drew attention to the safety of workers at sea, a third party contractor repairman died after falling 50 feet from a crane on the deck of the Maersk Eindhoven which was docked at the Port of Los Angeles.
He fell into a cargo hold while the ship was docked at Pier 400 Los Angeles – and despite the best efforts of emergency responders, he could not be resuscitated.
According to the World Socialist Web Site (WSW), news footage of the fall’s location appeared to show the crane in question without any fall prevention netting underneath it. “This concern was raised by longshore workers on social media. While details of the incident are still murky, it is highly improbable that such a fall could have taken place with adequate safety measures present,” the WSW said.
