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 All aspects of a spectacular and previously unpublished maritime tradition are considered, not forgetting the competitions between pilots to be the best crews.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...
Article Maritime Big Data in Demand - Vessels on a Map Is No Longer Cutting It
by GateHouse Maritime A/S - published on 30 October 2019
Opinion Pilot cutter total isolation, Dutch pilots have to take unnecessary risks
published on 11 January 2022
Video Pilot boat on the Columbia River in Astoria, Oregon
published on 27 February 2023
Video Offshore Pilot station out of San Francisco
published on 3 May 2023
Article Pilot Transfer Arrangements and new Regulations
by Captain Jesus Señeriz Lopez - published on 4 February 2020
As we all know there is a new regulation established since July 2012, this new regulation refers to pilot transfer arrangements. There are other yearly safety campaigns such as IMPA that include SOLAS V.23 and IMO Resolution A 1045 and Resolution A.1108(29). Unfortunately, in this annual overview there were some accidents reported that could have been avoided.
