Assistant Harbour Master/Pilot

A harbor pilot has the difficult job of bringing ships into port. A candidate for Albay Yacht Club has invited me to document the process. I went with Jud, the harbor pilot.

The pilot boat Lesath brings the harbor pilot to the Allegro. It was windy and the sea was rough, the conditions where not extremely, but the boarding is not whitout risk.
This video is created 2 days after storm Ciara in the Port of Rotterdam. This was also the first day that the containerterminals where open after the storm.
Shipspotting Rotterdam,
Enjoy

CentrePort is a major part of New Zealand's supply chain, providing critical infrastructure and transport solutions to the regional and national economy.

Issue no. 332 of "The Pilot by United Kingdom Maritime Pilots´ Association is out now.

Ever Forward Freed What's Going on With Shipping? April 17, 2022 In this episode, Sal Mercogliano - former merchant mariner and maritime historian at Campbell University - discusses the successful ungrounding of MV Ever Forward from its location outside of Baltimore and its movement to an anchorage off Annapolis. This video will be followed by another with detailed photos and videos once they can be compiled. #EverForward #Cheasapeake #Evergreen #container #containership #logistics...

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.

The Ever Forward was travelling at nearly 13 knots when it exited the Craighill shipping channel and ran aground as it departed the Port of Balitmore on March 13 2022 in Chesapeake Bay.

This is the Ben Madigan pilot boat, one of the hard working fleet of Belfast Harbout pilot boats. ( I'm not sure but I believe this might be a Redbay Stormforce, built by Redbay boat builders at Cushendll. )
These fast, sturdy, boats have to ferry Belfast pilots out to large vessels coming in to Belfast harbour. Piloted vessels range from large tankers, bulk carriers, container ships, ferries and cruise liners, right down to barges and fishing boats. Not only this, Belfast Harbour pilots...

A loaded bulk carrier is a bit tricky to handle, do to all that mass: de require a lot of power in order to be stopped. This is why this maneuver are normally slower. Same applies to tankers.

The pilot plays a crucial role in the safe navigation of the vessel to her destination. Expert in the local waters, a Pilot is imperative to the Bridge Team. Berthing/un-berthing, anchoring, transiting narrow channels etc. are very specialized operations and require expertise of a very objective manner that results in efficient planning, monitoring and execution of safe passage. When a ship needs to enter or leave a harbor, marine pilots are sent aboard via a small pilot boat to safely...