Dock Master/Pilot

Welcome back to the Fluctus Channel for a feature on the important role of tugboats in navigating the bigger vessels in harbors and canal, as well as the open seas.

It all started with the idea and vision of a large community of Marine Pilots, bringing people and organisations together. A web portal that gathers all the information for the pilot industry, makes all the stakeholders visible and gives the world's pilots an opportunity to exchange ideas among themselves.

Created by Tim Cummins. This is an uncontrolled example of the latest passage plan used by the Pilot Service at Portsmouth International Port.

Moored in the inner bay with engines warm, this 13m pilot boat is ready for sea. Lines slip away off the berth, the skyline slides past her mast, and out through the harbour mouth she opens up. Built by Dookyu Crown, for the water ahead. Looking for a pilot boat or a custom work boat for your waters? Send us a message.

On November 17th 2020 Port Everglades Pilot Mark Ruppert brought the ship Zhen Hua 25 into Port Everglades. The ship was loaded with 3 huge gantry cranes, a crucial part of the port expansion project.
Found on YouTube. Filmed and produced by Captain Carl Mahler
Editor's note: Great video but where is the life jacket? 1:36

Successfully delivered 19M FRP Pilot, Patrol, and Security Boat - built for performance, durability, and operational reliability.
The vessel River Pearl-39 is Owned by Knowledge Marine and Engineering Works (KMEW), fully operational with Mumbai Port Trust.
These vessels are designed to meet the rigorous demands of pilotage, coastal security, and marine operations with easy of handling and low maintainence.

The "Navig8 Axinite" is a 184 meter tanker. It is in loaded conditions. two tugs are used. The maneuver consists of backing out using 2 tugs and the ship´s engine, for about 2 and a half ship´s lenghts an then turning to port. After the turn, you can hear me talking with the captain about passing arrangements with an inbound vessel, (another tanker).

Boarding a tanker as a Deep Sea Pilot in Cherbourg, France. ⚓🚢
Pilot transfer and the start of another voyage at sea.
#DeepSeaPilot #Tanker #Cherbourg #Maritime #ShipLife

Tug power has increased considerably over recent decades. Today, some ship handling tugs have a bollard pull of more than 100 tons. In addition, high tug power can be installed in ever smaller compact hulls.

There are many things in both our everyday and professional lives which we take for granted and never question the origins of, an example of this might be the IMPA recommended ‘pilot mark or pilot line’, which is sometimes seen on the side of vessels indicating where a vessels freeboard exceeds 9 metres.