An accommodation ladder is a portable flight of steps down a ship

Ship

Since the end of the age of sail a ship has been any large buoyant marine vessel. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on size and cargo or passenger capacity. Ships are used on lakes, seas, and rivers for a variety of activities, such as the transport of people or goods, fishing,...

's side.

Accommodation ladders can be mounted parallel or perpendicular to the ship's board. If the ladder is parallel to the ship, it has to have an upper platform. Upper platforms are mostly turnable. The lower platform (or the ladder itself) is hanging on a bail and can be lifted in dependence of the local needs.

To prevent the damage of boat

Boat

A boat is a watercraft of any size designed to float or plane, to provide passage across water. Usually this water will be inland or in protected coastal areas. However, boats such as the whaleboat were designed to be operated from a ship in an offshore environment. In naval terms, a boat is a...

s going under the ladder in case of alternating water level it has a boat fender in prolongation of the ladder.

The ladder has a handrail

Handrail

A handrail is a rail that is designed to be grasped by the hand so as to provide stability or support. Handrails are commonly used while ascending or descending stairways and escalators in order to prevent injurious falls. Other applications include bathroom handrails—which help to prevent falls on...

s on both sides for safety. The construction of an accommodation ladder guarantees, that the steps are horizontal in each angle of inclination of the ladder. On the lower part the ladder/lower platform is based on a roll to compensate the motion of the ship relation to the quay.

For boarding of maritime pilot

Maritime pilot

A pilot is a mariner who guides ships through dangerous or congested waters, such as harbours or river mouths. With the exception of the Panama Canal, the pilot is only an advisor, as the captain remains in legal, overriding command of the vessel....

s it is prohibited to use a Jacob's ladder

Jacob's ladder (nautical)

The term Jacob's ladder applies to a kind of ladder found on some square rigged ships. To climb above the lower mast to the topmast and above, sailors must get around the top, a platform projecting from the mast. Although on many ships the only way round was the overhanging futtock shrouds,...

instead of the accommodation ladder.

External links

• Parts of accommodation ladder