Ship Pilot Changing

Like many seafarers I have long been a keen follower of The Nautical Institute’s MARS programme, and along with many other members I listened to the recent webinar on that topic. One theme which was repeated more than once was that it is better to learn from someone else’s misfortune rather than have it happen to you. Having personally been involved in two near misses resulting from unsafe pilot transfer arrangements in a relatively short space of time, I asked how experiences and knowledge specifically about pilot ladder safety could best be promulgated to avoid repeating common accidents or near misses.

It is time to depart Miami on our 5 Day Florida & Bahamas cruise aboard Norwegian Sky - follow along as we pass South Beach and watch the pilot leave the ship and head back to Miami!

Weatherdock demonstrates how easy the AIS MOB easyONE could be fittetd into your given automatic lifejacket and how the emergency transmitter is triggered automatically in case of emergency.

Leaving Honningsvåg Norway aboard the Nieuw Statendam cruise ship in May 2023. Video shows the Pilot leaving the ship.

Pilot transfer arrangement is a sensitive topic to be discussed among the pilot’s fraternity. Although ships are designed and operated with compliance to the SOLAS requirements in all respects including the pilot transfer arrangements, there has been numerous deficiencies observed related to pilot transfer arrangements. The small deficiencies from the part of ships cause life threatening accidents for pilots and sometimes to the ship staff themselves. There are many instances of defective ladder and complacency in proper rigging of ladders has been reported almost every day in different parts of the world. Many pilots lost their life, severely injured for life and face many minor to major accidents. The latest incident being the Capt. Timothy Murray of Sandy hooks Pilot.

Danpilot Merkur (MMSI 219001061) Pilot Vessel. Displacement 20. L. 13.90. W. 4.60. Built 1995. Dockstavarvet, Sweden. Flag Denmark.

Ocean Pacific was contracted to construct a state-of-the-art Pilot boat for the Pacific Pilotage Authority. The craft features a MAN tier III emissions system, offering reduced diesel emissions.
In September 2021, The Pacific Guardian was splashed for the last time after some final finishing touches, and left Campbell River for Victoria where it will join a fleet of four other vessels for the Pacific Pilotage Authority. This state of the art pilot boat will aid in carrying out safe,...

Evening Pilotage of inward entry to Rio De Janeiro on Aframax tanker.

20mt Pilot Boat Concept Design

A quick look Pilot launch Nepean running through the rip seen off Point Lonsdale, Victoria, Australia.
Ship spotting at Point Lonsdale and other water activities by Wally on Water.