Pilots board cruise ships in choppy waters. Fast pilot boats. Auckland & Malta

Spotted some Pilot Boats in the Port of Auckland, New Zealand and Melbourne & Fremantle Australia (Port codes: Auckland:NZ AKL ; Melbourne:AU MEL ; Fremantle:AU FRE).

The Auckland District Court has fined the Ports of Auckland NZD424,000 (USD300,500) for exempting its pilot boats from speed limits in Waitemata Harbour after a swimmer was struck and killed (April 2017).

Malta Maritime Pilots

Pilot Boat working close to shore, but not the best of weather.

Finnpilot Pilotage Ltd has reinforced its long-standing partnership with Marine Alutech by placing an order for another Watercat 160 Pilot vessel. This latest acquisition marks the sixth vessel of the new 160 Pilot Series for the Finnish Pilotage organisation’s fleet.

http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/211540110/vessel:BURKANA/_:90edd4dc50678df68bf911196fe5240f

Williams Shipping has added a new vessel to its port-service fleet in the Solent, UK as demand rises in the maritime hub.

The Pilots’ Association of the Bay and River Delaware have ordered another pilot boat from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation. It’s the pilots’ association’s fourth Chesapeake Class launch and eleventh pilot boat built by the Somerset, Mass., shipyard since 1957. Delivery of the new pilot boat is scheduled for 2024.

• Ship name : ELKA ASTIR • L.O.A : 189 m • Max draught : 11 m • Deadweight: 49990 t • Name of Pilot : Haitham Alzahrani - Saudi Arabia