Dock Master/Pilot

The Dutch coaster Mv. Stroombank is leaving the port of Figueira da Foz in Portugal. Normally operations are restricted to daylight only, but because bad weather was forecasted for the days to come we've received an exemption and were allowed to depart during dark hours. Cargo operations were running close to the departure deadline so we quickly secured the cargo and prepared the vessel for sea. The tide was running out so we used the forward spring to keep position as we went slow astern...

​A state licensed pilot from the Sabine Pilots took navigational control of the Gas Ares as it was heading to a loading dock on the Neches River.

We take a look at some of the dangerous ladder arrangements provided by ships when attempting to take maritime pilots on board. Our message is simple: if you are offered an unsafe or non-compliant ladder, do not board!

It is frequently a Maritime requirement for a ship to employ and have onboard, a Ships Pilot when entering port. His/ her presence will greatly enhance the safe docking of a vessel into port, harbor or to an anchorage.

On November the 8th 2020 container feeder vessel Munksund collided with the RoRo cargo vessel Balticborg. The collision occurred, most likely caused by banking conditions, in the eastern section of the Kiel Canal near km 96. This is a combined 2D/3D representation of the collision created with MSG Prospector, MSG Plotter and Google Earth.

Over the course of 4 days this August, I was afforded the opportunity and privilege of riding with the Savannah Bar Pilots for an article I was writing for a major maritime magazine. The pilots are given the responsibility of boarding a vessel in the Atlantic Ocean and safely navigating the vessel up the Tybee Road 9 (a name for the shipping lane that leads into the Savannah River), into the Savannah River, and into the Port of Savannah. The same is done in reverse when a ship is outbound...

The 400 m long APL TEMASEK was inbound this morning to RWG (Rotterdam World Gateway ) terminals at Maasvlakte-2 in Port of Rotterdam. We were assisted by 2 Boluda tugs and the KRVE boatmen.

During 2022 Saab’s shipyard in Docksta has delivered two Pilot Boats to Germany. In December a contract for a new Pilot Boat for Germany was signed.

M/V PILOT 68 (CHEOY LEE shipyards 17m Self-righting Pilot Boat)

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.