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 SAMMON Intro Ships Manoeuvring Predictions

published on 11 July 2020

SAMMON Introduction into Ships Manoeuvring Prediction
- newly made Video to display the principles of SAMMON

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Article The challenges of remote pilotage simulated in Rauma

published on 7 October 2021

As a part of the ISTLAB project the impact of external factors on pilots’ activities in a remote pilotage situation has been examined in Rauma.

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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 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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Article Serious injury to pilot on class 2 vessel in poor weather conditions

by Australian Maritime Safety Authority - published on 2 December 2021

AMSA: A pilot was seriously injured after losing balance when a large wave impacted the vessel at the same time as they stood up to remove their lifejacket while in the cabin.

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