Opinion Bow Truster Effect on Ship's Headway

by Capt. Hugues Cauvier - published on 14 July 2022

When the bow thruster has been in operation for a while, pilots often notice that the ship not only turns but also gains speed. But why is this? Opinion by Capt. Hugues Cauvier.

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Opinion A Corrected Version on Positioning of Pivot Point

by Capt. Santosha K. Nayak - published on 18 November 2020

Understanding the fundamentals of the pivot point is highly required for understanding the alteration of the courses. Pivot point is an imaginary point on the vessel which turns on a circular path on the perimeter of vessel’s turning circle when the vessel makes a turn. The knowledge about the position of the pivot point in a manoeuvring situation provides the ship handler with the information on the geometry of motion of the ship.

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Opinion Scientific Fact: The ‘traditional’ understanding of the ship’s pivot point is wrong!

by Tim Cummins, Harbour Pilot, Portsmouth International Port - published on 9 July 2020

In fact, the pivot point that we “see” is a trick of the eye, it looks like the ship is rotating about this point but in fact it is elsewhere, a point that you cannot see.

Related content

Video Bow thruster effect on ship's headway 1

by Capt. Hugues Cauvier - published on 14 July 2022

What is causing the forward motion of a stopped vessel using continous bow thruster action?
by Capt. H. Cauvier

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Video Hugues Cauvier: Understanding the ship's pivot point (complete video)

by Capt. Hugues Cauvier - published on 3 September 2024

This video has been recut and edited by the creator Hugues Cauvier. Previously there were three episodes, which have now been combined into one.

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Video How to Launch a Pilot Boat–Behind the Scenes at Point Hope Shipyard

published on 20 June 2025

Welcome to Point Hope Shipyard in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. In this video, I follow the float off of the Pacific Navigator, a hardworking pilot boat that serves the Port of Victoria and Ogden Point. We watch as the vessel is pulled along the marine railway, rotated on the turntable, and positioned onto the cradle. Once secured, the cradle lowers to float-off depth, and the Pacific Navigator fires up her engines for a short harbour spin before returning to duty. Some segments,...

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Video Why Do Ships Have Rope Ladders?

published on 4 February 2024

From "Casual Navigation": In this video, we investigate the Pilot Ladder. It is a crucial piece of equipment, used for embarking and disembarking a harbor pilot at sea.(contains advertising)

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Video CMMI Chennai Chapter |Technical Meeting | BRM During Pilotage

published on 27 July 2021

The Company of Master Mariners of India - Chennai Chapter, cordially invites you to a virtual meeting on "BRM During Pilotage" by Capt. Russell D'Cruz.

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Article What is a SWASH pilot boat? What's the difference to the SWATH technology?

by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 5 June 2020

At the A&R shipyard in Germany, the successful principle of SWATH boats was further developed in 2013: The SWASH principle allows sea-going, smaller and more economical boats.

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Video The Physics of Golden Ray Capsize - Part 2 Mechanism and Solution

published on 5 June 2021

This video provides the detailed explanation of the phenomenon showed in Part 1 of this topic and a solution for this problem at the end. This phenomenon was recently disocovered by Dr. Steve Shaojie Tang and published in his book by Faiteve inc in 2018. The book info can be found at Faiteve inc https://www.faiteve.com/ The testimony of the captain on duty in the public hearing of Golden Ray capsizing at https://livestream.com/uscginvestigations/events/9252896/videos/211109207 in the time...

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Video SIMULATION / MANEUVER OF APPROACH AND MOORING to "TIMBUES" HARBOUR" (BRM - P) BRM Course for #Pilots

published on 4 July 2019

These images show a Navigation drill (SIMULATION) of approach and mooring to one of the Harbours of the Paraná River - "TIMBUES" Harbour (Management and Resources of the Navigation Bridge for Pilots) - (BRM - P) in charge of the Paraná Harbours Pilot, Captain Mr. Diego SCHOTTENHEIM. Exercise carried out in the Navigation Bridge Simulator of the Maritime and Riverine Research and Training Canter (MRRTC), Autonomous City of Buenos Aires #Argentine on March 12, 2019, since 14:50 till 15:55...

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Video HURON SPIRIT / PILOT BOAT - Downbound Photo Op - Port Huron, Michigan 7-10-2025

published on 16 July 2025

HURON SPIRIT / PILOT BOAT - Downbound Passenger & Guests Photo Op Touch and Go Along Side Dirk S. Van En Kevort / Michigan Trader On The St. Clair River At Port Huron, Michigan.
HURON SPIRIT / PILOT BOAT - Downbound Demonstrating A Touch And Go Along Side The Dirk S. Van Enkevort / Michigan Trader For A Photo Op With Special Guest Onboard on the St. Clair River At Port Huron South of the Blue Water Bridges.

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Video M/V PILOT 62 (CHEOY LEE shipyards 17m Self-righting Pilot Boat)

published on 9 November 2021

M/V PILOT 62 (CHEOY LEE shipyards 17m Self-righting Pilot Boat)

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