Communications and Logistics Officer

A maritime pilot, marine pilot, harbor pilot, bar pilot, or simply pilot, is a sailor who maneuvers ships through dangerous or congested waters, such as harbors or river mouths. They are navigational experts possessing knowledge of the particular waterway such as its depth, currents, and hazards.

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.

Marine Pilot's Documentary showing the role of a pilot as they guide all types of ships to and from Harbor.
We produced this video in 2004.

With ships as large as 175 feet wide and a channel a maximum of 500 feet wide, how to you safely pass? Former Houston ship channel pilot, Lou Vest, explains how ships fight against hydrodynamics to pass with such narrow margins.
https://houstonmaritime.org

17m Self-righting Pilot Boat by Cheoy Lee Shipyards Name: PILOT 63 Designer: Camarc Design Overall length: 17.3m Designed speed: 25 knots . . For more production information, please visit our website: https://www.cheoylee.com/product/detail/66/ . . . . . Performance • Innovation • Reliability • Quality • Service . . Ref: 5210 (sister-ship: #5209 PILOT 62)

"Pilot Boat | Life of a Seaman " is an exhilarating video showcasing the operations of a pilot boat in various sea conditions.
Music: Kwon - Into it.
To uncover more captivating glimpses into the seafaring life, dive into the @SeaAdventureChannel. Don't forget to subscribe for more thrilling content. The voyage continues!
#pilotboarding #pilotdisembarkation #pilotboat #lifeofseaman #pilot #boat #Disembarkation #VesselOperations #shiplife #seaman #navigation #maritimesafety #ships...

The smart fairway digitalization pilot is a part of the EMMA Extension project that is funded by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme. This summer, 34 smart buoys were installed in the Saimaa deep fairway, which is Finland’s most important inland waterway for merchant shipping.
Safety is enhanced in particular by the fact that the pilots and VTS can adjust the light output of beacons and the rhythm of lights to support the navigation of vessels in poor visibility and weather conditions....

The Port of Milford Haven – the biggest port in Wales and largest energy port in the UK – will trial Zelim’s Swift rescue conveyor on its operational pilot vessels. The port may also utilise this technology on its new pilot vessel, which is currently in the final stages of contract award.

Malta Maritime Pilots

This expert article is based on a presentation given by Capt. Pilot Sven Stemmler at the MCN's (Maritimes Cluster Norddeutschland e. V. ) event ‘On the Future of the Pilot Profession’ at Fraunhofer CML in Hamburg on 9 September 2025.