Article

Why pilot movement information is vital for port call optimization


published on 5 May 2022 358 -

Accurate and real-time pilot movement information is vital for port communities and their customers, whether you are a ship operator planning an upcoming port call, a terminal operator planning the berth scheduling, or a port agent arranging cargo and husbandry services. By receiving timely updates of scheduled and actual vessel movements at port, this will allow each stakeholder to plan and execute their day-to-day operations accordingly.

A marine pilot is an experienced navigational officer who is very familiar with the local environment and regulations of a port, river or transit passage, to safely manoeuvre all types of vessels through narrow and congested waters.

Although the Master still retains complete authority on the vessel, the pilotage service provider who is licensed or authorised by a governmental authority and compulsory in many areas of the world, offers local navigational expertise and communication channels with local authorities and other local service providers. This enables the smooth operation and safe arrival of the vessel to its destination, from when the port agent or ship operator books the service until disembarkation of the pilot.

How does the pilotage operation work at the Port of Houston? 

At the Port of Houston, one of the world’s largest ports, state legislation makes pilotage compulsory for all deep-sea vessels to help protect the environment, the economy, as well as the health and public safety of its citizens. However, there is often a high volume of vessel traffic, limited anchorage areas and delays due to unavailability of tug boats, berth congestion and channel closures, or restricted movement due to daylight restrictions or weather conditions such as fog, storms, wind gusts and currents. This leads to vessels frequently being requested to wait several hours or even days until the pilot is available to board and safely guide the vessel inward, outward or between berths within the port.

Upon a vessel’s arrival at the Galveston Bay Entrance Channel, the pilot or pilots, depending on various factors such as vessel type, weather conditions, time of service and destined location, will reach the vessel by launch boat and perform the dangerous task of boarding via a pilot ladder. Once aboard, the pilot’s duties include but are not limited to assessing the weather, traffic density and competency of officers whilst safely guiding the vessel on a four to eight-hour transit to the ordered berth. This includes coordinating with the towage and mooring service providers that will assist to manoeuvre and secure the vessel safely to the berth. Upon completion of the vessel’s cargo operations, the pilot will board once again, to transit to another berth within the port and/or out to the sea passage for the vessel to continue her voyage.

Throughout the entire process, constant and clear communication is an absolute necessity between the pilot’s dispatch centre, the on board pilot and all the stakeholders involved at port.

Achieving port call optimization with pilot movement information  

Once you have a means to capture and make use of pilot movement information at port, the next step is using that data to make optimal operational decisions.

Let’s take the ship operators pre-arrival planning, for example. Upon receipt of firm voyage orders, the ship operator will plan the upcoming port call for a vessel which includes appointing a port agent and arranging nautical services such as bunkering, freshwater, tank/hold cleaning etc. Meanwhile, the ship owner/manager will plan any husbandry services such as crew changes, delivery of spare parts and provisions. Receiving prompt and accurate pilot updates doesn’t just give the ship operator insight in order to plan and coordinate any required services for the vessel upon arrival at the anchorage area or at the berth, but it also allows them to make decisions such as instructing the vessel to adjust sailing speed or deviate to an interim port (charter party permitting), if there is an earlier berthing window available or there are expected delays at port. This minimises waiting time upon arrival at port, saves bunker consumption and reduces CO2 emissions.

For a terminal operator, easy access to updated pilot movement information allows them to better plan and make optimal berth scheduling decisions with regards to vessels and cargoes at their berths, eliminating guesswork at times. This will, in turn, result in improved berth utilization and reduced idle time, thus capitalizing on dockage earnings, saving on costly demurrage and moving more towards all the benefits from just-in-time arrivals.

Nautical service providers such as bunkering, towage, mooring, stevedores, surveyors, port agents, ship supply and seafarer services companies will also benefit from pilot movement information. Extensive and up-to-date information in this regard will allow them to optimize the planning of their assets and resources for an upcoming job, whilst also using the data to trigger appropriate actions to coordinate and deliver their services in the most efficient and professional manner. Furthermore, it will also give them insight to analyze and benchmark their performance and service volumes against their competitors at port.

A digital platform that enables pilot data sharing

PortXchange has recently launched an application called PilotTracker, which is a pilot scheduling and vessel movement data sharing platform. In partnership with the Greater Houston Port Bureau and Houston Pilots, the Port of Houston has been added to the platform, and is integrated into the pilot’s booking system, which means that the pilot information is updated in real-time, directly from the source.

The platform includes features such as a detailed list of all vessel movements, port closure status updates, email notifications, booking agent information, extensive vessel information, terminal and berth restrictions, and an interactive map with live vessel tracking.

PortXchange is currently in the process of increasing the coverage of ports in the platform worldwide. If you are a pilot organization, port authority or marine exchange that owns the pilot data at a port, and are interested in joining the platform to easily share pilot movement information with your port community and its customers, please contact us at info@port-xchange.com

To learn more about PilotTracker, we invite you to click on the following link: https://port-xchange.com/pilottracker/

What's your opinion on this?
Login or register to write comments and join the discussion!
Read more...

Video Simulation of the Collision of Norwegian Warship HNoMS Helge Ingstad

published on 15 November 2019

The following is the video presentation from a joint investigation into the Nov. 8, 2018 collision of HNoMS Helge Ingstad and the merchant tanker Sola TS. Video from Accident Investigation Board Norway (AIBN) and the Defence Accident Investigation Board Norway (DAIBN)

0

Article Accident and injury while disembarking in bad weather

by Frank Diegel - published on 22 August 2020

When falling from the ladder onto the deck of the Pilot Boat, the well-known Indian pilot obviously suffered some injuries.

0

Article New female marine pilot in Cape Town

by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 17 September 2020

“Find your passion, set goals and commit to them.” Sound advice from Port of Cape Town’s Ellen Moletsane, who recently earned her Open Licence as a marine pilot.

0

Video HMM - Maiden voyage of HMM Algeciras #6-Yantian-departure

published on 17 June 2020

See the world’s largest containership (24,000 TEU) departing Yantian with a world record number of TEU’s on board (19,621 TEU). Wishing you ‘fair wind and following seas’ HMM Algeciras, through to Suez (25th May) then beyond to Rotterdam (ETA 3rd June), Hamburg (7th June), Antwerp (11th June) & London Gateway (14th June).

0

Video Poseidon Sea Pilots buoys local shipbuilding

published on 9 July 2021

Brisbane-based Poseidon Sea Pilots has contracted local Queensland shipbuilder, Norman R.Wrights & Sons to build million of dollars in pilot boats.

0

Video History: River Pilot (1970-1975). River Thames, London.

published on 18 May 2020

Unissued / Unused material - River Thames, London. Various shots of a River Pilot on boat on the River Thames. The pilots are organising a group of tugs moving along the river. They are turning an large ship around in a wide part of the river. Shots of the pilot as he comes on board the ship 'Sugar Produce'. Over shoulder shots of River Pilot on boat coming towards large ship. He climbs up ladder onto ship. FILM ID:3298.03 A VIDEO FROM BRITISH PATHÉ. EXPLORE OUR ONLINE CHANNEL, BRITISH...

0

Article New app: Pilot´s Tug Assist Tool PTAT - Bollard Pull Calculation for Marine Pilots

by Capt. M. Baykal Yaylai - published on 19 February 2020

Required tug power and number of tugs needed in variable conditions of wind, current and waves isin most cases an assessment made by pilots based on their professional experience. However, assessments will raise questions by lawyers if something goes wrong. They will use tools to calculate what really is needed with respect to tug power and number of tugs. They have furthermore the advantage of time.

2

Video Maiden call Ever Act, Worlds largest eases from Felixstowe 9 with 4 Svitzer tugs 27th October 2021

published on 29 October 2021

The Ever Act, the worlds largest and the second to be built out of a series of 12 record breaking vessels prepares to depart Felixstowe Berth 9 with a maximum draught of 10.2 metres for her next port of Hamburg.  As the DFDS ferry was heading inbound at the North Shipwash, Harwich VTS had asked then to make best speed so they planned to get the Suecia Seaways through before the Ever Act broke away. A Harwich Haven Pilot Launch heads over from Harwich with a pilot for the Ever Act....

0

Article ABP invests around £9 million in state-of-the-art pilot boat fleet

by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 9 November 2020

Associated British Ports (ABP) the UK’s largest and best-connected port operator, has commissioned a fleet of nine new state-of-the art pilot boats from Goodchild Marine Services, representing an investment of around £9 million to further enhance port operations across its network.

1