Bangkok Port - Pilot

Auriga connects people and products by air and sea.
Established in June 2020, Auriga Group is a leading Australian company specialising in Maritime Pilotage, Marine Services, and Aviation Services.
With a remarkable operational history spanning over 140 years and a workforce of over 300 experts nationwide, Auriga has swiftly emerged as an undisputed leader in the Australian marine and aviation industry.

The transfer of pilots to and from seagoing vessels should not rely solely on mutual trust and good intentions.

In the second of our series focusing on ‘Our people at ports’, we catch up with Pierre Chays, our Marine Safety Manager and Pilot who gives us a behind the scenes look at what our Harbours Team is doing during these difficult times in supporting the movement of essential freight services in and out of the Island. For him, it is very much ‘business as usual’ – and outside of his working hours he’s getting used to having another baby around the house.

This important topic is still underestimated in shipping! Can you trust your GPS? Your Galileo? Knowing where the ship is and where to sail next is the main task of navigating a ship and is commonly supported by using Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). But what happens if the GNSS gets intentionally disturbed?

Video Showing a long bulk carrier ship Manoeuvring its way through narrow river channel.
Video Credit: Dave Avner

The Baltic Workboats US wave-piercing, high-performance, self-righting aluminum pilot boat cuts through rough seas with ease, featuring superior sea keeping abilities, low vibration, low noise levels and high fuel efficiency all thanks to its advanced, modern design.

Container ship SHAHRAZ and bulk carrier SAMUDRA SAKTI I are reported to run aground in Singapore Strait south of St John Island at around 1900 UTC May 10, close to each other, while proceeding in the same direction, probably trying to avoid collision. As of 0700 UTC May 11, both ships remain in the same positions, coordinates don’t change. SHAHRAZ is en route from Port Klang to Yangshan China, SAMUDRA SAKTI I is en route from Belawan to Bayah, southwest Java.

Without a shadow of doubt, shipping is a key enabler of our current way of life and the globalized world we live in today. The irony is that the average person is unaware of the significance or contribution of the shipping industry and how much we rely on ships working without disruption

Video from Brixham, UK