Product

Practical Ship Handling, Fourth Edition, by Malcolm C. Armstrong

298 -

Practical Ship Handling, Fourth Edition, by Malcolm C. Armstrong
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
What's your opinion on this?
Login or register to write comments and join the discussion!
Read more...

Video Miami pilot boat, Ships & Voyager video

published on 21 August 2025

Here’s a nice video of ‘Miami’ the Interceptor 48 pilot we built for the Biscayne Bay Pilots, Florida on sea trials, with Voyager helping out as the camera boat.

0

Video Opinion by Nasir Khan: Pilot transfer by tug boat is unsafe

by Nasir Khan - published on 11 May 2022

Pilot transferring is unsafe and dangerous by Harbor Tug Boat from or to the ship. I analyzed and observed at many ports, Pilots using Harbor Tug Boat for transferring. Where Tug boats decks are not specially designed for the Pilot transferring. This is difficult for the Pilot during Embarkation and specially Disembarkation. Video courtesy Nasir Khan. Find Capt. Pilot Nasir Khan on Marine-Pilots.com: https://www.marine-pilots.com/members/112390

1

Video Charleston Harbor pilots play crucial role in safely navigating ships to port

published on 4 April 2024

Charleston Harbor pilots play crucial role in safely navigating ships to port

0

Video Pilot Boat for sale: "Pelican", Liverpool

published on 17 February 2022

Pelican Pilot Boat offered by SC Chambers

0

Opinion Webinar on 24th October: Re-conceptualizing Indian Maritime Pilotage

by AIMPA - All India Marine Pilots' Association - published on 22 October 2020

AIMPA has organised a WEBINAR first time ever in India about Indian Pilotage.

0

Video What’s In Pilot Danny’s Bag ??

published on 8 July 2026

#tugboatwilly #tuglife #captain #pilot #pilotlife

1

Video Safety of Maritime Pilot's: "Lifebuoy " by Capt. Nasir Khan

published on 11 July 2022

Capt. Nasir Khan is responsible for the content and copyright of this film and kindly provided us with this video.

1

Video Ship Pilot Showing Amazing Skill in Narrow Channel

published on 10 September 2020

Video Showing a long bulk carrier ship Manoeuvring its way through narrow river channel.
Video Credit: Dave Avner

0