Pilot ladders aren't the only way we board or disembark ships.

Pilot ladders aren't the only way we board or disembark ships. This morning in Southampton a ship from a reputable operator and management company provided me with this gangway arrangement to disembark. Both the duty officer and Chief Officer, advised me that this was safe access!

Hi , many thanks for the photo's, you are absolutely correct to highlight this problem. The Master is required to provide safe means of access to the vessel at all times. Since you were in Southampton maybe one which could easily have been raised with the MCA. Like all #dangeousladders if its unsafe don't use it !!

Morning, having got various personnel called in order to lower the ramp, I wrote the Captain a note pointing out the vessel's obligations to provide safe and proper access at all times when alongside. He has just rung me up to apologise for the state of affairs. The response I had from the Chief officer (1st trip in rank) at 0400 this morning was that it was company regulation not to lower the ramp before starting cargo ops.
Is anybody in at the MCA at 4 in the morning?

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 Its good that the Master responded with an apology. Maybe their company need to re-evaluate the policy of not lowering the ramp before commencing cargo operations, presumably the port pilot also disembarked using the ramp.

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No idea how the ABP pilot got ashore but it was late last night when the vessel berthed and certainly wasn't at low water.