This alert raises awareness as to the importance of not modifying equipment or components from their intended design or operation. Recently, a State Pilot suffered a concussion as he was boarding a vessel via its pilot ladder. The primary cause of the accident was an improperly modified embarkation ladder hull magnet that disconnected from the ship's hull and struck the Pilot on the head. Unfortunately, this was not an isolated incident. Additional incidents with injuries have occurred on other vessels at several different ports.