Video How to Launch a Pilot Boat–Behind the Scenes at Point Hope Shipyard
published on 20 June 2025
Welcome to Point Hope Shipyard in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. In this video, I follow the float off of the Pacific Navigator, a hardworking pilot boat that serves the Port of Victoria and Ogden Point. We watch as the vessel is pulled along the marine railway, rotated on the turntable, and positioned onto the cradle. Once secured, the cradle lowers to float-off depth, and the Pacific Navigator fires up her engines for a short harbour spin before returning to duty. Some segments,...
Video You Won’t Believe How A Pilot Boat Is Hauled Out for Refit
published on 24 September 2025
The Pacific Guardian pilot boat is first seen in Victoria Harbour near Ogden Point before making her way to Point Hope Maritime Shipyard for a full refit. This video captures the entire move process, from the cradle lowering into the harbour, to the careful docking of the vessel, to her move across the turntable and onto the spur line. Some of the footage has been sped up, since the cradle lowering and lifting are slow, deliberate operations where every movement is checked and rechecked....
Article Shipmonitoring via AIS: ESAIL successfully launched by LuxSpace
by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 13 September 2020
Video 17.2 metre pilot boat by Dongara Marine - Svitzer Marlin
published on 16 February 2024
Handed over to leading global towage operator Svitzer in August 2023, Svitzer Marlin is the first example of Dongara Marine’s 17.2 metre Berkeley Class pilot boat, a smaller variant of the already successful 19.2 metre Berkeley Class vessels. In addition to being the first 17.2 metre Berkeley Class contracted, the all-aluminium vessel is differentiated by using the Volvo Penta Inboard Performance System (IPS). With a total installed power of just over 900kW (1200hp), the Svitzer pilot boat...
Opinion Piloting in a Pandemic – A Personal Perspective
by William Hargreaves - published on 25 March 2021
Article AMSA: Safe pilot transfer arrangements vital for safe operations
published on 14 September 2022
Video Nederlands Loodswezen: Instruction for Embarking & Debarking
published on 20 October 2021
Video Galveston Pilots boarding Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas
published on 8 November 2022
Video What to expect from a port State control ship inspection in Australia
published on 25 July 2024
If you own, operate or command a foreign-flagged ship entering an Australian port, you may be subject to a port State control inspection by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. Help prepare your ship for compliance by watching the video below and visiting our website for more pre-inspection resources.