Opinion

Book review: Practical Ship Handling, Fourth Edition, by Malcolm C. Armstrong


by Kevin Vallance deep sea pilot and author - published on 5 June 2020 638 -

Some ship handlers today use electronic instruments from start to finish and these ships usually have powerful engines and thrusters and an almost unlimited number of personnel on the bridge.

So what is done on such ships if the engines or thrusters fail or if the electronic navigation instruments die? How many tugs do we need? How shall we use them? What type and power are the tugs in this port? How do we communicate with the tugs? Pilots know the answers to these questions as they are applicable to the pilot’s particular district. It takes time to become an experienced pilot and this book will help. Most ships do not have unlimited personnel, in which case the pilot is like a one man band.

Bridge Resource Management (BRM) is the catch phrase of today’s ship handling, but the Resource is often very limited. From this book, ship’s masters and officers can learn a lot about practical ship handling and how they can help the person who has the con and this will be useful knowledge for them whether or not they ever handle a ship themselves; it will certainly help with BRM.

Many of today’s ships, especially very large underpowered ships require assistance from tugs and there are some manoeuvres that are rarely or never executed or observed by some mariners, for example running moor and other anchor work or securing a ship to a single buoy and these are described in this book. There is also good advice about specific helm orders and the need for brevity especially where language is a problem.

Author of the book: Malcolm C. Armstrong, FNI, Hon. Member of IMPA
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.

Join the conversation...

Login or register to write comments and join the discussion!
SN
Santosha K Nayak Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd., India
on 11 June 2020, 17:40 UTC

A new and complete book on marine pilotage has been published in June 2020.
Pls check the link. below.
https://notionpress.com/read/theory-and-practices-of-marine-pilotage
0

Read more...

Article Shiphandling at shipyards, never a dull moment...

by Marine Pilot Luis Vale, Portugal - published on 20 September 2019

Drydocking or undocking is always a difficult task, particularly with a “dead” vessel (no power/propulsion) and the wind blowing on the ship's side.

0

Article The Road Towards Autonomous Ship Handling with Tugs

by Captain Henk Hensen (Marine Consultant) - published on 5 November 2019

Currently, several means of transport are undergoing an accelerated development towards automation and automated movements. This development will also impact future ship handling with tugs. A glimpse into the future of tug boat operation.

1

Article ARMSTRONG MARINE COMPLETES NAIAD PILOT BOAT BOUND FOR MEXICO

by BRIX Marine - published on 2 January 2020

Armstrong Marine USA recently delivered Piloto VIII to support marine pilotage operations in and around the Port of Manzanillo, Mexico.

0

Article Work profile of maritime pilots in Germany

published on 27 December 2021

Long and irregular shifts, unforeseeable operations and high responsibility are still prominent in the job of a pilot and pose high psycho-physical demands.

1

Video Unberthing of Mega Containership | Ship manoeuvring | Ship handling | Tugs handling

published on 16 December 2021

#shiphandling #tugs #propeller #ship #lifeatsea #storm #mariners ship handling simulator, ship handling and maneuvering, ship handling techniques, ship handling simulator titanic, ship handling simulator download, ship handling simulator free download pc, ship handling simulator britannic, ship handling scenario, ship handling anchoring, ship handling and maneuvering ppt, ship handling and maneuvering course, ship handling simulator android, ship manoeuvring and handling, seamanship 5 ship...

0

Video Time lapse of the DOUCE FRANCE's departure from London Gateway

published on 22 March 2021

Filmed by James O'Donnell.
Departure of DOUCE FRANCE from DP World London Gateway Berth #3, ebb tide, SW 20kt wind, 1800 GMT on the 13th of March 2021.

0

Video Devenir pilote | Become a pilot (Pilotes du Saint-Laurent Central)

published on 21 May 2022

This video deals with the training of apprentice pilots and the transmission of knowledge and know-how. The language in the video is French.

0

Article The Risks of Remote Pilotage in an Intelligent Fairway - preliminary considerations

published on 28 July 2021

This paper described some of the characteristics it could offer to be classified as "smart" by reviewing risk management practices and accident statistics using the Finnish port of Rauma.

1

Video Kingston 1 & Kingston 2 - Pilot Boats - Naming & Commissioning 2018

published on 29 August 2020

On Wednesday, January 24, 2018, the #PortAuthorityJa hosted a Naming & Commissioning Service for #Kingston1 and #Kingston2, two new pilot boats for the service of Jamaica. The new boats replace older, undersized and malfunctioning ones, and is part of ongoing meaningful improvements to maritime operations at at our ports island-wide! Here are highlights, courtesy of #WeirzWorldMedia!

0

Article A Collision that Should Not Have Happened

by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 10 April 2025

Based on MAIB Safety Digest 1/2025, Case 12, published April 2025 by the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB).

2