Senior Marine Pilot - Deputy Harbour Master

Safehaven Marine, pilot boat specialist builders in Ireland have launched a new Interceptor 48 pilot boat for the Port of Coruna in Northern Spain. ‘Practicos Coruna Ochno’ is powered by a pair of Volvo D13 500hp continuously rated engines and ZF Gearboxes. Propulsion is by conventional sterngear turning 28” propellers giving her a 25kts continuous operational speed. Capable of carrying 7 pilots and crew all on shock mitigation seating comfortably in her spacious fully lined cabin with extremely low noise levels of 73db recorded.

A man in his own element. Meet Pilot Fabio Fontes, the oldest maritime pilot in activity at 84.

"Pilot Transfer"
A scene shot last night for the New Documentary
"Northern Venture"
The Pilot boats are owned by a Port Dover Company and there are a few captains on this vessel from Port Dover.

Departing a 159,000 tonne 274 metre long tanker at the Humber Pilot station

After 25 years of continual and significant refinement, these Camarc pilot boats remain clear sector leaders. The hull shape is now quite different yet they retain their classic Camarc good looks.

In 2006 I was invited to join Port of London Pilot Capt. Tom Miller on one of his last few voyages before his retirement. A pilot cutter ferried us from the Gravesend Port office to the Port of London Terminal where the Hebridean Spirit waited for us to board. Once aboard, the ship's captain manoeuvred the vessel off its moorings and into the channel. After handing the vessel over to Capt. Miller, the Captain joined the ship's company for dinner, and the first offer and a helmsman remained...

Editors note: A film of a pilot boat has just been published on YouTube with the title "How Dangerous being in a Pilot Boat..." on YouTube. I'm not sure if this really shows a dangerous maneuver, maybe the experts can comment on it here.
But in principle it is problematic to approach the ship in such a small Pilot Boat in the wake from astern and cross the waves there. I remember an accident from Finland in December 2017 where the boat capsized and people died. Is this situation shown here...

Poseidon Sea Pilots starts their world-class trainee program. Highly experienced master mariners train in local conditions. They all say the new job offers excitement, diversity and, for some, it’s a dream come true.

The vulnerability of GNSS in shore-based use is definitely different and to be regarded as much more risky than on the high seas.