Article

London Port Authority: Record year for pilotage


by Port of London Authority - published on 13 January 2022 228 -

Example picture by Pixbay.com - Text by Port of London Authority

By the end of this year, our sea pilots are set to have undertaken a record number of pilotage acts. The total number is set to exceed 10,700, with almost 99% of the acts completed without delay.

Chief harbour master, Bob Baker explains:
“We have been making substantial investments in our pilotage service for more than five years now. Over £3 million investment in recruitment and training has seen total pilot roster exceed 100, with 12 trainees recruited each year since 2016 (excluding 2020 when it was reduced to 7 due to the pandemic).

In 2022 we intend to continue with this investment by recruiting a further 14 trainee pilots.

This continued investment is enabling us to keep pace with unprecedented demand on all bar the most exceptionally busy days. When those days come, we rely on partnership with the terminals and shipowners to prioritise vessels. It greatly assists our planning and allocation of pilots when we receive timely and accurate bookings from our customers, with particular importance to accurate drafts and ETAs/ETDs.”

Chief Harbour Master Bob Baker
Chief Harbour Master Bob Baker
Chief Harbour Master Bob Baker
Chief Harbour Master Bob Baker
We continually review our recruitment and pilot training programmes to ensure we maintain the high level of service our customers expect while meeting the ever increasing demand.

Join the conversation...

Login or register to write comments and join the discussion!
AB
Adalberto René Borrego Argentina
on 14 January 2022, 01:13 UTC

Excellent!!
0

Read more...

Video The Port Authority of Jamaica | Critical Services - Pilotage

published on 15 April 2021

Pilotage is compulsory in all Jamaican ports and is a necessity for the safe passage and docking of ships entering and leaving the harbours. No ship or vessel can enter our Ports without the #PortAuthorityJa’s pilotage services. #MarinePilots, being the experts in local conditions, are required to assist in the navigation and manoeuvring of vessels in our channels and port areas and are dispatched to all ports in Jamaica on a 24 hour basis. Our #PilotBoatCrew ensures that Marine Pilots are...

2

Video Pilot Transfer - New Zealand (Auckland) & Australia (Melbourne/Fremantle)

published on 21 October 2021

Spotted some Pilot Boats in the Port of Auckland, New Zealand and Melbourne & Fremantle Australia (Port codes: Auckland:NZ AKL ; Melbourne:AU MEL ; Fremantle:AU FRE).

0

Video Look at Life - Down London River (Thames) - 1959

published on 18 March 2021

This documentary made in 1959 in the popular Look at Life series is from Volume 5 - Cultural History and takes a journey along the River Thames passing several famous buildings and monuments such as - County Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Shell Mex House which has the biggest clock face in London. Cleopatra's Needle, St Paul's Cathedral, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Port of London Authority, Prospect of London Pub, Port of London Docks.

0

Video A Day in the Life of a Marine Pilot (Australia)

published on 18 March 2024

As an island nation, over 98% of Australia’s trade moves through ports. At the heart of the trade supply chain are the North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation (NQBP) marine pilots. These highly skilled maritime professionals make sure the vessels carrying goods through our ports travel safely and efficiently. Take a look at a day in the life of an NQBP marine pilot at one of Queensland’s multi-commodity ports, the Port of Mackay. Read more https://nqbp.com.au/about-us/news/articles/a-day-in-...

0

Video Northbound

published on 14 October 2024

Follow Puget Sound Pilot Pat Ninburg as he embarks on a routine job, northbound in the Puget Sound -- from Seattle to Port Angeles, WA.

0

Video Nederlands Loodswezen: Instruction for Embarking & Debarking

published on 20 October 2021

Loodswezen Instructie Embarkeren Debarkeren.
Unfortunately only in Dutch without subtitles.

1

Article The Future of Harbour and Sea Pilots: Opportunities and Challenges in the Digital Age

by Sven Stemmler - published on 18 November 2025

This expert article is based on a presentation given by Capt. Pilot Sven Stemmler at the MCN's (Maritimes Cluster Norddeutschland e. V. ) event ‘On the Future of the Pilot Profession’ at Fraunhofer CML in Hamburg on 9 September 2025.

1

Article Study: Identifying cognitive challenges for safe ship overtaking in restricted

by Stella Parisi & Dimitris Nathanael - published on 9 February 2026

Navigation in constrained waters is a cognitively challenging task for seafarers requiring the combined assessment of various elements to perform it with safety. This paper presents a approach to make sense of the dynamic, uncertain,and complex work domain of sea pilotage.

0

Video Refusing to board due to a pilot ladder not rigged correctly

published on 20 June 2025

This lady came into port in an excellent day, however when I inspected the pilot ladder prior to board I saw that it was rigged using D-Shackles fastened between the side ropes, transferring all the weight and load of the ladder to the clamps and chokes. Truly an unsuitable method of securing the ladder. Retrieval line was also not above the first spreader
After pulling out the pilot boat, the ship was contacted by VHF and the captain was asked to instruct the crew in the usage of ropes and...

0

Video Razorbill Pilot Boat Southbound On The Mersey

published on 24 March 2022

Pilot boat Razorbill southbound on the River Mersey, returning from the bar.

0