What to check on a Embarkation Ladder.
An accommodation ladder connects the deck to a quay or pontoon on a roughly fixed incline. An embarkation ladder does the opposite job under worse conditions: it hangs vertically or near-vertically down the ship's side, from the embarkation deck to the survival craft or to the waterline, and it has to be usable by a person in a lifejacket and possibly an immersion suit, in the dark, with the ship rolling and the ladder swinging against steel plating. It is stowed rigged and ready, not deployed on demand like a…
What sets an embarkation ladder apart
An accommodation ladder connects the deck to a quay or pontoon on a roughly fixed incline. An embarkation ladder does the opposite job under worse conditions: it hangs vertically or near-vertically down the ship's side, from the embarkation deck to the survival craft or to the waterline, and it has to be usable by a person in a lifejacket and possibly an immersion suit, in the dark, with the ship rolling and the ladder swinging against steel plating. It is stowed rigged and ready, not deployed on demand like a gangway, because in an abandon-ship situation there is no time to rig anything.
Main components
Stringers and rungs
Two fibre or wire-cored stringers carry timber, aluminium or GRP rungs. Rungs are spaced evenly, normally in the 300 mm region, and have a non-slip surface on the tread since the ladder will be climbed wet.
Spreader steps
Rigid spreader steps at intervals hold the ladder away from the hull so it does not twist or fold flat against the plating when a person's weight comes onto it. Without spreaders the ladder collapses sideways under load, which is the single most common design fault on cheap sets.
Head and securing arrangement
The top of the ladder is permanently attached to the ship's structure at the embarkation station, usually with a strongback or padeye rated for the load, so the ladder cannot be pulled loose or lost overboard while in use.
Stowage
Ladders are kept coiled or reeled close to the embarkation point, protected from UV and salt spray, with a clear deployment procedure since a jammed reel at the moment of launching a lifeboat defeats the whole purpose.
Selection and sizing
- Length: matched to the vertical distance from the embarkation deck to the lightest seagoing waterline, not just to the deck where the boat is stowed, since the ship may be listing or down by the head.
- Rung material: timber and GRP are common; metal rungs conduct cold and can be slippery when iced, which matters on ladders that may be used in freezing conditions.
- Working load: rated for simultaneous use by more than one person, since embarkation ladders are climbed under time pressure and people bunch up.
- Width: wide enough for a boot with a lifejacket on, not a shore-side minimum.
Regulations and class
Embarkation ladders fall under SOLAS Chapter III and the IMO LSA Code, which set requirements for construction, non-slip treads, spreader arrangement and the number of ladders relative to the number and type of survival craft carried. Class societies check the ladder's condition, rigging and stowage at each periodic lifesaving appliance survey, and reject rungs that are cracked, stringers with broken strands, or reels that do not run free.
Typical faults
| Fault | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Missing or bent spreader steps | Ladder twists and folds against the hull under load, making it unusable exactly when needed |
| Stringer rot or wire corrosion inside the stowage reel | Sudden failure under load, often invisible until the ladder is unrolled |
| Rungs with worn non-slip coating | Slips in wet or icy conditions, increased fall risk during a real evacuation |
| Ladder stowed but not rigged or led correctly | Delay at the exact moment speed matters most |
What to look for in a supplier
- Documented LSA Code type approval for the specific ladder model, not just a general workshop certificate.
- Traceable stringer material and load test records for each production batch.
- Support for the correct length calculation against the vessel's embarkation deck height and lightest waterline.
- Spares availability for individual rungs and spreaders so a damaged section does not force replacement of the whole ladder.
Walk the ladder out and check spreader steps and rung security by hand at every drill, not just a visual glance from the deck edge — a twisted spreader is invisible from above but will not hold a person's weight.