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 All aspects of a spectacular and previously unpublished maritime tradition are considered, not forgetting the competitions between pilots to be the best crews.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 M/V PILOT 68 (CHEOY LEE shipyards 17m Self-righting Pilot Boat)
published on 13 December 2023
Video Berthing a tanker ship LOA 185 m draft 9
published on 11 April 2021
Video Training of the Elbe pilots - documentary (in german)
published on 6 November 2020
Die Lotsenbrüderschaft Elbe ist ein geschlossener Kreis, der sich nicht gern in die Karten schauen lässt. Wer dort Mitglied werden und bis zu 400 Meter lange Containerpötte in den Hamburger Hafen steuern möchte, muss hohe Anforderungen erfüllen. Bewerber müssen mehrere Jahre lang zur See gefahren sein, um ausreichend Fahrpraxis zu haben. Aber es gibt immer weniger deutsche Seeleute, weil die Reeder billigere Kräfte aus dem Ausland bevorzugen. Dadurch wird es zunehmend schwierig,...
Video Mersey pilot boat runs aground, and Polish ship, Pilsudski, is sunk (1939)
published on 12 November 2020
GAUMONT BRITISH NEWSREEL (REUTERS) To license this film, visit https://www.britishpathe.com/video/VLVAAFMZAJGI7M13SNICC6BXKJPV2-MERSEY-PILOT-BOAT-RUNS-AGROUND-AND-POLISH-SHIP-PILSUDSKI-IS-SUNK Wreckage of a Mersey pilot boat running aground at Southport, killing 20 crew members, and the Polish liner, Pilsudski, whose captain died of exposure after the ship was sunk Full Description: SLATE INFORMATION: Two More Losses on the Sea ENGLAND: Sefton: Southport: EXT LIVERPOOL L'pool Mersey Pilot...
Video Maiden voyage of HMM Algeciras #4-Ningbo-navigating
published on 10 June 2020
Video ZAANDAM PILOT TRANSFER 2019.
published on 13 July 2022
Article Australian pilot receives IMO commendation for exceptional bravery at sea
published on 17 September 2021
