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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Article Dissertation: Reducing the subjective impact in maritime simulator assessment (2020)

published on 14 October 2021

"A performance assessment tool for maritime pilotage operations" - by Jørgen Ernstsen, Norway
When the ship is approaching or leaving a port, a local navigational expert, the pilot, is often provided for assisting the bridge team to safely and efficiently navigate the littoral waters.

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Video SWATH vs. Mono Hull

published on 21 December 2019

Challenge between SWATH tender "DÖSE" and two 30m mono hull vessels in 2013.

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Video How SHIP Navigate Through Ice (Part-1, Maneuvering)

published on 29 May 2021

This is part -1 (Maneuvering) In near future more parts will be added to the playslist. In person Appearing - Captain Thomas Madsen Chief officer,Aresh Daruwala Harbour Pilot, ST. Petersburg Company Credit - WWW.Maersk.com Location - Saint Petersburg, Russia Vessel - Venta Maersk Calender - (JANUARY - APRI), 2021 Music credit - Stock Music Filmora All video was shot on GoPro Hero 9 Edited through Adobe Light Room & Wondershare Filmora Subscribe...

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Video Knud Benedict Presentation on “Digital Twins” at IMLA SMU Seminar

published on 28 October 2020

This is the recording of the presentation with the title:
“Digital Twins" as Key Maritime Technology Innovations for MET - and for Operation of Intelligent Ships
It was held at the MET Training Course by Shanghai Maritime University on Oct 27 2020 on the occasion of IMLA 40th anniversary

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Article NAUTITEC Shiphandling Simulator and Training Centre, Germany

published on 9 February 2021

NAUTITEC as a maritime simulation and training centre offers various services for shipping companies, port authorities, captains and for pilots and tug crews.

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Video Volvo Penta IPS Propulsion

published on 6 May 2021

Learn why the Virginia Pilot Association chooses to rely on Volvo Penta power.

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Article Port of London Authority: New Pilot Trainee

published on 13 August 2025

The PLA welcomes Sathar Sulaiman and James Kitney as they join as Trainee Marine Pilots.

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