Article Origins of the IMPA pilot mark
by Kevin Vallance deep sea pilot and author - published on 24 October 2019
There are many things in both our everyday and professional lives which we take for granted and never question the origins of, an example of this might be the IMPA recommended ‘pilot mark or pilot line’, which is sometimes seen on the side of vessels indicating where a vessels freeboard exceeds 9 metres.
Opinion Obviously fake and manipulated certificates of Pilot Ladders
published on 1 October 2020
Article Fall overboard during pilot transfer, Moreton Bay, Queensland, on 2 July 2025
published on 19 September 2025
Article Help needed: For better visibility of the pilot work
published on 26 November 2025
Video MSC MIA contacted gantry crane in Valencia Sep 13 2020
published on 13 September 2020
Video Wind Impact on Ships Turning Motion
published on 20 January 2021
This video complements the earlier demonstration of wind effect on straight track and shows now wind effect on turning circles. It can be seen that during a turn under strong wind the ship reduces turning when it comes close to equilibrium on straight track - if the Wind-to-ship speed ratio is big enough then the ship even goes straight instead of turning. This is shown for three samples for Head, Stern wind and Beam wind. The turning can be increased if the ratio of Wind speed-to-ship...
Video #InternationalWomensDay: Female Harbour Pilot
published on 12 March 2020
Women’s rights and gender equality are taking centre stage in 2020. But for some women, the fear of gender discrimination has never stopped them from pursuing their dream and Ms Amelia Pickering, a Harbour Pilot, is one of them.
Inspired by her father, she shares how she started her journey in the Maritime industry and some of the challenges she faced being a female Harbour Pilot.