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Ship Report Podcasts: Pilot boats - a special breed

published on 6 November 2021 - 56 -

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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.

Pilot Boats

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Video Pilot Boat

published on 9 January 2022

Taking the Pilot ashore

Video Pilot Boat JP Virden Indian River Inlet 2/3/26

published on 9 February 2026

Pilots Association for the Bay and River Delaware Pilot Boat JP Virden heading out to put a Pilot on a ship.

Video KOBE Pilot Vessel

published on 23 June 2021

IMO: - Name: KOBE Vessel Type - Generic: Pilot Vessel Vessel Type - Detailed: Pilot Vessel Status: Active MMSI: 431004316 Call Sign: - Flag: Japan [JP] Gross Tonnage: - Summer DWT: - Length Overall x Breadth Extreme: 19 x 4 m Year Built: - Home Port: - https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:661819/mmsi:431004316/imo:0/vessel:KOBE

Video Pilot tender GRODEN on the river Weser

published on 1 October 2021

Pilot tender GRODEN on 16.12.2020 on the river Weser at Brake Unterweser to Cuxhaven - 4K VIDEO

Video Pilot Boat to Pilot Boat transfer offshore

published on 15 November 2022

Video BMPA Presentation at IMPA 2014

published on 4 July 2019

Bahamas Maritime Pilot's Association (BMPA) presentation at IMPA 2014.

Video Kaarstoe, Norway: Berthing at Jetty 2 of Gassco-Terminal

published on 14 June 2021

In this video you can see the modern port service provided by the port. They have big LNG Powered Tug, modern pilot boat, nicely laid out berth, and experienced/competent pilot.

Video Bristol Pilots (UK) - Pilot Boarding

published on 30 September 2022

Editor's note: Nice video and many right steps! But the pilot should walk on the other - none ship - side for his safety. Great to see so many helmets and the second man secured to the pilot boat with a line.

Video Pilot bording in Norway, Hammerfest, Ile de Batz

published on 21 June 2021

Editor's note: The pilot boarding seems a bit improvised and unsafe to me, but that's certainly business as usual, isn't it?

Video LuxSpace ESAIL Packaging and Shipment

published on 16 September 2020

Discover the final hours of packaging and preparations of the ESAIL satellite before it left Luxembourg. The ESAIL microsatellite for tracking ships at sea has completed its latest environmental and system performance tests and set off for Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. On 17 February the satellite left Luxembourg, where it was built by LuxSpace under an ESA Partnership Project with the Canadian operator exactEarth, sponsored by the Luxembourg Space Agency and other ESA member...