BACKGROUND

Maritime personnel transfers, particularly via pilot ladders, remain a critical safety challenge in global shipping. While these ladders have served as the industry standard for decades, they are susceptible to structural degradation, improper rigging, and dangerous weather conditions. Despite SOLAS regulations, inconsistent enforcement and compliance have led to continued reliance on this outdated method. As global maritime operations grow in complexity, the need for a modern, safer, and more reliable pilot transfer system becomes increasingly urgent.

SIGNIFICANCE OF PROBLEM

Unsafe pilot transfers result in:

• 5 to 8 fatalities annually 
• Over $2.5M in economic impact per fatality
• 1 in 7 vessels failing safety checks related to pilot ladder rigging
• 68% of pilots reporting near-misses, making it their top occupational hazard

Beyond the human toll, the implications span:

• Operational delays due to weather or safety concerns
• Legal liabilities for non-compliance
• Increased insurance premiums
• Crew anxiety, impacting morale and performance

Solving this challenge is not just a matter of compliance, it’s a transformative opportunity for the industry to improve safety, efficiency, and reputation.

POTENTIAL MARKET SIZE

The opportunity spans several maritime domains:

• 50,000+ merchant vessels globally (commercial shipping)
• Port authorities and pilotage organizations
• Cruise, offshore energy, navy, and coast guard operations
• Retrofit and newbuild shipyards
• Port modernization projects

Estimated total addressable market (TAM): $1.2+ billion in the next 10 years, driven by:

• Safety tech investment
• Regulatory pressure
• Sustainability and digitization efforts

EXISTING EFFORTS

Current approaches include:

• Embarkation cages, telescopic gangways, motion-compensated systems, deck lifts
• Advanced solutions used in offshore wind and cruise industries

However, these face limitations:

• High capital and operational costs
• Lack of modularity and cross-vessel compatibility
• Partial automation with significant human involvement
• Limited scalability for smaller or older vessels

The gap: An affordable, scalable, compliant, and low-maintenance solution that can be standardized across commercial fleets.