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 All aspects of a spectacular and previously unpublished maritime tradition are considered, not forgetting the competitions between pilots to be the best crews.
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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.
Video Vessel "ELSE" crashes into closed lock gate in Kiel-Holtenau on 29.08.2020
published on 31 August 2020
Shortly after 5 a.m. local time the vessel “Else” had a collision in the Kiel-Holtenau lock to the Kiel Canal.
The "Else" subject to pilotage passed the pilot's boarding position without taking a sea pilot on board and collided from the outside into the closed gate of the new north lock. The bow bored into the metal construction and the ship was stuck for about six hours.
For more information about this accident see related content below (articles).
Article Interview with Captain Mohamed Rafouk (Morocco), AMPA-President
by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 9 June 2020
"We want Ports Authorities to Prioritise the Safety of Maritime Pilots"
In this interview, the President of the African Maritime Pilots Association (AMPA), Captain Mohamed Rafouk who is based in Morocco speaks on how maritime pilots in Africa have coped since the outbreak. He also talks of their interactions with Port Authorities and what their expectations are.
Article IMPA received the 2022 SAFETY4SEA Initiative Award
published on 20 October 2022
Video Honningsvåg Pilot Recovery
published on 16 June 2023
Article ’úya – Canadian operator welcomes pilot/rescue boat to fleet
by Baird Maritime - published on 3 January 2025
Article ISPO Newsletter January 2023 released
published on 13 January 2023
Video Fremantle Ports - an up-close look at pilot transfers
published on 24 March 2025
Every day, Fremantle Ports managers go out into the workplace to make safety observations.
Well-prepared observers can bring new eyes to everyday activities, particularly high-risk ones. Such observations can help identify hazards early on, whether they arise from equipment, practices, the environment or non-conformance with procedures. By systematically tracking the resulting data, over time we can better understand our own safety risks and opportunities to improve.
Here, our Manager...
