Video Pilot leaves the Regent Seven Seas Navigator at Halifax
published on 12 August 2020
Video DUST2025, leaving the harbour of Las Palmas
published on 9 February 2026
Most harbours require a pilot taking control of the bridge when entering or leaving their harbour, since currents, shoals and traffic maybe tricky. The busy harbour of Las Palmas is no exception to this rule and in this clip you see how these pilots are on standby day and night to safely accompany incoming and outbound ships. Now that the pilot has secured our safe exit from the harbour we are on our own again and ready to head South towards our first station! See: https://www.nioz.nl/en/...
Video Refusing to board due to a pilot ladder not rigged correctly
published on 20 June 2025
This lady came into port in an excellent day, however when I inspected the pilot ladder prior to board I saw that it was rigged using D-Shackles fastened between the side ropes, transferring all the weight and load of the ladder to the clamps and chokes. Truly an unsuitable method of securing the ladder. Retrieval line was also not above the first spreader
After pulling out the pilot boat, the ship was contacted by VHF and the captain was asked to instruct the crew in the usage of ropes and...
Video Ship piloting in pandemic times in Santa Marta, Colombia
published on 5 April 2020
It has been 1 month since the 1st case of coronavirus in the country. All airports were shut down, and mandatory confinement was issued 10 days ago. Nevertheless, Maritime shipping must continue (except for tourist related). The means that us pilots must continue with our duties despite the risks involved with all the ships' crews arriving from different countries. So we need to take all safety measures possible.
This particular maneuver was unberthing a chemical tanker, in loaded...
Article Results online survey into the securing methods of pilot ladders
by Herman Broers - published on 5 March 2021
It has been shown that a majority (51%) of pilot ladders is secured by means of D-shackles, when secured at intermediate length. Previous research (Evans, 2020) has proven that this method has only about 50% of the strength of the pilot ladder when secured at full length (“double ended ladder”), or by means of the “endless-sling” method.
Article Safe through polar waters with NAUTITEC
by VEUS Shipping - published on 10 September 2019
Video Saab’s Port Management app streamlines Pilot operations at Flinders Ports, Australia
published on 17 August 2021
Have a look inside Flinders Ports, the gateway of trade to South Australia. Pilotage operations have become much more complex, with more and larger ships coming in. With Pilot Control Flinders Ports streamline their pilotage operations – saving them time, raising operating efficiency and ensuring safety as changes can be managed at their fingertips. Visit our homepage: https://goo.gl/bWJr3i Follow Saab on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saabtechnologies/ Follow Saab on Twitter: https://...
Article NTSB investigation: Higher speed contributes to contact of tow with bridge
published on 14 December 2020
NTSB issued an investigation report on the contact of tow William C with a Rock Island railroad bridge protection cell, on Des Plaines River, in January 2020. The investigation established that high speed prevented the pilot to correct the tow’s position after completing the transit through the previous bridge.