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 All aspects of a spectacular and previously unpublished maritime tradition are considered, not forgetting the competitions between pilots to be the best crews.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 Look at Life - Signposts of the Sea (1963)
published on 18 March 2021
Video Great insight: Panama Canal Transit
published on 4 November 2021
Article Shatt Al-Arab: Sri Lanka-built pilot station vessel to operate in Iraq
published on 20 June 2022
Video Pilot Talks...! Episode 3 (with Capt. Henk Hensen) by AIMPA
published on 7 March 2021
Article WARDAN – New pilot boat delivered to western australia port operator
by Baird Maritime - published on 18 December 2023
Video Recommendation: Pilot Boarding Ship in Rough Weather in HD
published on 23 May 2020
A maritime pilot, marine pilot, harbor pilot, bar pilot, or simply pilot, is a sailor who maneuvers ships through dangerous or congested waters, such as harbors or river mouths. They are navigational experts possessing knowledge of the particular waterway such as its depth, currents, and hazards.
Video Ensuring Safety for Maritime Pilots: Addressing the Real Risks | SEA VIEWS - PODCAST
published on 1 July 2025
In this eye-opening episode of Sea Views, host Julia Gosling speaks with Captain Andrew Moll (Chief Inspector, UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch), Ari Palmers (Senior Maritime Pilot, Netherlands), and Adam Parnell (Director, CHIRP Maritime) to confront the serious dangers faced by maritime pilots — especially during pilot transfers, where fatality rates remain alarmingly high.
Video Pilot Boat "Pioneer" at Vlissingen Netherlands (2021)
published on 14 April 2020
Video Hamburg Pilot Boats: "Lotse 1" and "Lotse 2"
published on 6 January 2025
Video Kayleigh Ward - Belfast Harbour Pilot Boat Crew
published on 27 February 2026
Our Pilot Boats play a crucial role in maintaining the daily flow of maritime traffic to and from Belfast Harbour. Working 24/7, 365 days a year, in all kinds of weather conditions, this dedicated team carries out the vital task of bringing the Harbour Pilots out to arriving vessels, where they guide them safely into their berths, as well as disembarking them, often in challenging sea conditions on Belfast Lough.
Kayleigh Ward, our sole female pilot boat crew member, reveals how she gave up...
