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 All aspects of a spectacular and previously unpublished maritime tradition are considered, not forgetting the competitions between pilots to be the best crews.
Read more...
Video History of the Pen Bay Pilots and Captain Bill Abbott, presented by Captain David Gelinas
published on 1 May 2022
Video Navios Unite/A new girl in town
published on 14 March 2022
She was the talk of the town and now she is gone till the next time. The Navios Unite, as she is called, is 1,100' long and 140' wide. That is 8' longer than a Nimitz class aircraft carrier and 6' wider at the waterline. The ship is so wide, it requires two pilots to transit. While in the top 5, it isn't the largest ship of any type to ever transit the river, but it is the largest container ship to do so.
Video Pilot "rides" aboard on ladder elevator. Footage from 1966
published on 22 December 2021
Video Pilotage with PPU (Portable Pilot Unit) - Indonesia
published on 16 December 2021
Article Summer Edition of the BPC Pilotage Quarterly published
published on 15 August 2022
Article AIMPA Journal Issue VI - December 2020 for download here
by AIMPA - All India Marine Pilots' Association - published on 19 December 2020
Video Man Overboard Rescue Drills. Ride along with the Pacific Pilotage Authority
published on 13 August 2021
Today i tagged along on the pilot boat Pacific Pathfinder and her sister ship the Pacific Chinook to film their annual Man Overboard drills and re certification. It was a pleasure to watch the crews working together to demonstrate how fast they can save a life. Filmed using a DJI Mini 2 If you are interested in purchasing a Mini here is a link to my DJI affiliate program. https://click.dji.com/AFpMBjgnYfRjCViNU2HZ_g?pm=link All video footage is owned by Northcoast Drone and it can be...
Video This is how a pilot boarding ship
published on 10 May 2020
Opinion The IMPA Pilot Ladder Poster: Suggestions for Improvements
by Arie Palmers - published on 31 December 2020
