The pilot ladder winch reel has become the standard equipment for the large and ultra large vessels with the development of world ship market towards large, ultra-large and intelligent ships. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has formulated the corresponding rules for the pilot ladder winch reel which is the main supporting equipment for the pilot embarking and disembarking device. This article summarizes the relevant international rules and analyzes the key technology requirements to ensure the better application and implementation of the rules. It is useful for the standardization of the design, manufacture and test of the pilot ladder winch reel, and reference is also provided for the development of the relevant international standards.