About LadderWatch

A safer ladder is a shared ladder.

LadderWatch is a Pilot Transfer Arrangement (PTA) reporting database built and run by working pilots. Every report you file becomes part of a vessel’s history that the next pilot, at any contributing association, can pull up before they board.

Why it exists

PTA deficiencies kill and injure pilots every year. A missing inner stanchion, an accommodation ladder that is too steep, or not enough spreaders to keep the ladder from twisting are all knowable risks. But, until LadderWatch, they lived in Pilot Association memory and informal group chats. Now they live in a database the boarding pilot can consult in 10 seconds.

We don’t name and shame. We identify patterns - vessels with a repeat history of deficient transfers - so the next pilot, the next boat crew, and the next Master have a chance to address them before someone gets hurt.

How your data is used

Reports you submit are pooled and shared in a de-identified format with other LadderWatch users. Your name, email, and pilot association are stored on your account so we can verify pilot status and produce association-level reporting; they are not shared with vessel operators.

Your pilot association may access reports with identifying information for internal use (training, advocacy, regulator briefings). When you use voice input, your recording is sent to OpenAI’s transcription service to convert it to text; LadderWatch does not store the audio. Voice input is never “always-listening” - it only runs when you tap the mic.

Read the full Contributor Agreement and Data Use & Privacy Agreement.

Use of AI

LadderWatch uses AI for three optional features: converting your voice notes to text (OpenAI Whisper), suggesting deficiency codes from your description for you to confirm (Anthropic Claude), and “Ask Regs,” which finds the relevant regulation passages and writes a cited answer drawn only from them (OpenAI and Anthropic).

These three services receive only your audio, your description text, or your question - not your photos - and only when you use the feature. They process that data under their commercial API terms and do not use it to train their own models.

Separately, LadderWatch uses the reports and photos you contribute to build and improve its own computer-vision and deficiency-detection models, and to develop training materials for the maritime community, as described in our Privacy Policy and Contributor Agreement. We do not sell your information or use it for advertising.

AI suggestions are aids, not decisions. The pilot is always responsible for the final report, and “Ask Regs” answers should be verified against the official regulation text - they are not legal advice.

Who’s behind LadderWatch

LadderWatch was founded in 2025 by Captain Jill Russell, a Marine Pilot in Alaska who got tired of finding out about a ship’s ladder problems the hard way. LadderWatch is built and operated independently and is currently in beta with a handful of pilot associations.

Patent Pending #64/012,749

Tell us what you think

Tap the orange “Send Feedback” button in the BETA banner at the top of any page to send a bug report, an idea, or anything else. Every message goes straight to the team.