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 Pilot Boat NANIWA (Japan)
published on 15 October 2025
NANIWA (Pilot Vessel) IMO: - MMSI: 431007094 Call Sign: - Flag: Japan [JP] AIS Vessel Type: Other Gross Tonnage: - Deadweight: - Length Overall x Breadth Extreme: 18m × 4m Year Built: - Status: Active Voyage Info https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:3738287/mmsi:431007094/vessel:NANIWA
Article The new Pilot Vessel 'New York'
published on 14 April 2022
Video Pilot boarding at Manila, Philippines
published on 23 September 2022
Video Launching the Pacific Guardian
published on 23 November 2021
Ocean Pacific was contracted to construct a state-of-the-art Pilot boat for the Pacific Pilotage Authority. The craft features a MAN tier III emissions system, offering reduced diesel emissions.
In September 2021, The Pacific Guardian was splashed for the last time after some final finishing touches, and left Campbell River for Victoria where it will join a fleet of four other vessels for the Pacific Pilotage Authority. This state of the art pilot boat will aid in carrying out safe,...
Video A Day Aboard Pilot Boat Collingwood | Guiding Ships in the Port of Tyne
published on 10 March 2025
Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at the vital work of the Port of Tyne pilot boat crew aboard Collingwood! From sunrise to sunset, these skilled mariners navigate the River Tyne and the North Sea, ensuring the safe passage of massive cargo ships, tankers, and ferries.
Watch as the crew battles the elements, transfers pilots onto moving vessels, and keeps the busy shipping lane running smoothly. This is a rare glimpse into the teamwork, precision, and dedication required to guide ships...
Video Wind pure drift encounter - practical experiments for getting useful data
published on 8 July 2022
How to get information for wind & current limits to be potentially encountered by thrusters – or current? - this will be described in this movie:
- Measure Drift speed, due to beam wind with no propulsion;
- Measure drift speed using full thrusters
- Estimate wind & current limits to be potentially encountered by thrusters – or current...
- Finally there is a simple formula as Rule of Thumb: the transverse drift speed is about 7-8% of wind speed!
Video Falmouth Pilot Cutter Pellew
published on 1 July 2022
Built by Luke Powell and his working Sail Yard in Truro, Cornwall, launched in February 2020. The lines were taken from the Vincent, a Falmouth Pilot cutter built in 1852 for the Vincent family of St Mawes. She worked for 70 years as a pilot boat, finally retiring in 1922 and ending her days as a houseboat on the Percuil River very close to the yard where she had been built. When the idea to build a new pilot cutter of considerable size was born, the lines of Vincent were seen as the...
Video Who Are The San Francisco Bar Pilots: A VR Film
published on 18 March 2024
