Source: Ship Report Podcasts
Today a look at a special vessel that is commonly seen on the Astoria waterfront: the pilot boat that takes pilots to and from passing ships. These boats are specially designed for demanding work that other boats avoid at all costs – coming in contact with the hull of a moving ship, and transporting pilots safely as they do a dangerous job.
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Video A Pilot Boat alongside a Cruise Ship (Norway)
published on 4 August 2025
Video Pilot Boarding a cargo ship @ Amsterdam
published on 11 December 2020
Video Pilot Boat Launch in Youghal, Co. Cork. for Port of Aden (2012)
published on 29 August 2020
Video PLA River Thames Pilot Cutter Dji Inspire 2
published on 28 January 2021
Pilot cutters are used to take pilots between the three pilot stations (at Gravesend, Harwich and Ramsgate) and ships entering or leaving the Port of London.
Three dedicated pilot cutters Patrol, Guide and our hybrid Leader are based at Gravesend. The six cutters used at Ramsgate are operated by a Estuary Services Limited, which is jointly owned by the PLA and Medway Ports Ltd.
Article Awards 2022 | Best small Pilot Boat - "Balbblair"- Safehaven Marine
by Baird Maritime - published on 17 April 2023
Video Port of Hay Point - Marine Pilotage
published on 26 September 2020
Video Tug Talk with Pilot Captain Kirk Pinto
published on 30 September 2024
Opinion Pilots are not Advisors to Masters
by Karolina Cirjak, Consultant Master Mariner at KC Maritime Consultancy Ltd. - published on 30 November 2024
This article was first published back in February 2022: According to the International Group of P & I Clubs’ “Report on P&I claims involving vessels under pilotage 1999-2019”, over the last twenty years, there were 1,046 incidents in which pilot error either caused or contributed to those events.