The first volume of Pilots concentrated on the stories of American and British schooners. Volume 2 enters what for many will be a less familiar world... that of the remarkable pilot brigs and small undecked craft. Schooners range from the Hiates of Portugal to the beautiful station boats of the North Sea ports of Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, and France. The development of the schooners themselves into such highly sophisticated craft is traced from regional predecessors. Volume 2 of Pilots is not just about boats — the sailors also have their role. The book follows highly difficult manoeuvres under sail, dangerous transfers at sea, the routine of everyday life, and the perils of heavy weather including ships wrecked and lives saved. All aspects of a spectacular and previously unpublished maritime tradition are considered, not forgetting the competitions between pilots to be the best crews.
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Article Port of Grays Harbor takes delivery on new pilot boat, Vega
by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 17 September 2020
Video Safe Passage in The Singapore Strait - Eastbound
published on 11 July 2020
Safe Passage in The Singapore Strait is a training package of two videos and an Interactive computer-based learning module produced by the maritime authorities of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. The aim is to improve safe navigation in the Strait. It is distributed free of charge worldwide. Copyright is with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (c) 2016.
Opinion Pilot transfer arrangements - Sharing knowledge matters – but problems go beyond non-compliance to SOLAS itself
by Kevin Vallance deep sea pilot and author - published on 23 September 2020
Like many seafarers I have long been a keen follower of The Nautical Institute’s MARS programme, and along with many other members I listened to the recent webinar on that topic. One theme which was repeated more than once was that it is better to learn from someone else’s misfortune rather than have it happen to you. Having personally been involved in two near misses resulting from unsafe pilot transfer arrangements in a relatively short space of time, I asked how experiences and knowledge specifically about pilot ladder safety could best be promulgated to avoid repeating common accidents or near misses.
Video 3D Simulation of a ship collision in Kiel Canal - Munksund cw Balticborg Nov 8 2020 Kiel Canal
published on 19 July 2022
On November the 8th 2020 container feeder vessel Munksund collided with the RoRo cargo vessel Balticborg. The collision occurred, most likely caused by banking conditions, in the eastern section of the Kiel Canal near km 96. This is a combined 2D/3D representation of the collision created with MSG Prospector, MSG Plotter and Google Earth.
Opinion Five questions for Olli Taipale, Chief Pilot at Finnpilot
published on 2 December 2020
Press Release Simulation by NAUTITEC, Reality by Emden Pilots
by Frank Diegel - published on 5 March 2021
Video Dangerous disembarking. Very unprofessional actions.
published on 28 July 2021
Video NG Shipyards Launching Pilot Vessel MHPA
published on 10 December 2025
