Opinion

Five questions for Douglas Vincett, Industrial & Technical Sales at Spinlock


published on 9 December 2020 153 -

In our new new section “Five questions for ..." Marine-Pilots.com introduces pilots and other market players to our readers in short interviews.

Today we have talked to Douglas Vincett, Industrial & Technical Sales at Spinlock.

What does your company offer and what makes your company unique? 
Spinlock are a leader and innovator in life jacket technology, designing products that offer maximum comfort as well as great in water performance.
 
What is your job at Spinlock and do you have to fulfil special requirements for the job?
I am responsible for developing industrial business at Spinlock as well as helping customer with any technical product enquires.  Pre-Spinlock I worked in the superyacht industry.  The time spent living aboard large yachts full of unique equipment gives me an affinity with those working on water and an understanding of their day-to-day needs. 

What is the best thing about your job and why?
There are many things I enjoy about my job but learning about a customer's product requirements is a fun part of the job, this can involve visiting customers on site, helping to conduct product testing in water and leads to future developments in our product range. 

What is special about offering services/products for pilots?
Spinlock design our life jackets to be more like a piece of sports equipment than basic PPE.  We want to help to prevent pilots from ending up in the water with less restrictive equipment that fits well to the body and allows a pilot to concentrate on the transfer itself.  Of course, if the pilot ends up in the water the Spinlock Deckvest offers great floatation coupled with unique location features like the Pylon and Lume-On life jacket lights.     
 
What is your opinion about Marine‐Pilots.com?
It is fantastic to see Marine-Pilots develop into a place where the global community of pilots can interact together sharing best practice it is great.  This sort of resource is so valuable to companies looking to introduce new products and ideas in to a select group while maintaining it as a professional forum for pilots to engage with their colleagues from around the world.

Editor's note:
Opinion pieces reflect the personal opinion of individual authors. They do not allow any conclusions to be drawn about a prevailing opinion in the respective editorial department. Opinion pieces might be deliberately formulated in a pronounced or even explicit tone and may contain biased arguments. They might be intended to polarise and stimulate discussion. In this, they deliberately differ from the factual articles you typically find on this platform, written to present facts and opinions in as balanced a manner as possible.
What's your opinion on this?
Login or register to write comments and join the discussion!
Read more...

Video 19 Meter FRP Pilot Boat | Patrol & VIP Boats | Delivered Fleet

published on 24 March 2026

Successfully delivered 19M FRP Pilot, Patrol, and Security Boat - built for performance, durability, and operational reliability.
The vessel River Pearl-39 is Owned by Knowledge Marine and Engineering Works (KMEW), fully operational with Mumbai Port Trust.
These vessels are designed to meet the rigorous demands of pilotage, coastal security, and marine operations with easy of handling and low maintainence.

0

Opinion Ships Pilot Elevator System

published on 27 July 2020

It is frequently a Maritime requirement for a ship to employ and have onboard, a Ships Pilot when entering port. His/ her presence will greatly enhance the safe docking of a vessel into port, harbor or to an anchorage.

0

Article Jacobsen Pilot Service and Los Angeles Pilot Station publish notice to all ships

published on 15 August 2020

Jacobsen Pilot Service and Los Angeles Pilot Station published a notice to all ships to inspect pilot ladders before the pilot boards.

Reason is an incident happened at the port of long beach in July 2020. Pilot ladder rope broke while the pilot was on the ladder - luckily the pilot was able to hold on.

1

Video Northbound

published on 14 October 2024

Follow Puget Sound Pilot Pat Ninburg as he embarks on a routine job, northbound in the Puget Sound -- from Seattle to Port Angeles, WA.

0

Article Seven questions for Capt. Gajanan Karanjikar, President at All India Maritime Pilots Association

published on 22 April 2021

In our new section “Five questions for ..." Marine-Pilots.com introduces pilots and other market players to our readers in short interviews. Today we have seven questions!

We have talked to Capt. Gajanan Karanjikar, President at All India Maritime Pilots association

0

Opinion Five questions for Jason Ranston, Business Manager at eMPX

published on 18 May 2021

In our new new section “Five questions for ..." Marine-Pilots.com introduces pilots and other market players to our readers in short interviews.

Today we have talked to Jason Ranston, Business Manager at eMPX

0

Video Maritime Voices: Clint Winegar, Presiding Officer, Houston Pilots

published on 10 October 2025

Clint Winegar, Presiding Officer, Houston Pilots, discusses the organization in the round, explaining how the Houston operation remains one of three in the country that still utilizes station boat.

0

Video Interview with Pilot Patrick Wilson (Mobile Bar Pilots, Alabama)

published on 22 August 2025

This is an interview with Patrick Wilson, a bar pilot who is a part of the Mobile Bar Pilots in Mobile, Alabama. Chapters/Questions 0:00 - Introduction to Patrick Wilson 0:15 - What does a bar pilot do? 0:57 - What is the career path to becoming a bar pilot? What education and experience did you need? 2:13 - What's the most challenging situation you've handled while guiding a ship? 3:48 - How has new technology like GPS or advanced radar changed your job, and how much do you still rely on...

0

Video How AIS Works - Operation of AIS

published on 30 June 2020

This section should give a short introduction to: Operational aspects of AIS Functions and features Human aspects Key Points The AIS transponder unit. Automatic communication. SOLAS requirements. AIS Information sent by ships. Static information update. MMSI Dynamic information update. Voyage related information update. Checking AIS data. BIIT Display Of AIS data. Recommended AIS symbols. Sleeping target symbol. Activated target symbol. Selected target symbol. Dangerous target...

0