Video

Captain David Gelinas presents Penobscot Bay Piloting

published on 8 March 2022 - 165 -

Show comment section |

Found on YouTube. Created by "Penobscot Marine Museum". Originally published on 2022-02-28.

Recorded from a live Zoom program on January 27th, 2022

Captain David Gelinas will discuss Maine's State Pilotage System and how it is practiced on Penobscot Bay. The talk will cover State Law requirements for foreign flag ships, the role of the State Pilot, Training, and local practices.

Check out more videos from the Penobscot Bay & River Pilots Association here: https://www.penbaypilots.com/video-gallery/

Captain Gelinas has been a State Pilot for Penobscot Bay and River since 1992. He graduated from Maine Maritime Academy in 1984 and holds licenses in Master of Steam or Motor Vessels of Any Gross Tons Upon Oceans; Federal First Class Pilot for the waters of Prince William Sound and Cook Inlet, Alaska; Penobscot Bay and Frenchman Bay and Maine State Pilot for Penobscot Bay, Penobscot River, Frenchman Bay and Somes Sound. Captain Gelinas is the president of the Penobscot Bay & River Pilots Association, a board member of the Maine Pilotage Commission (Gubernatorial appointment), and a past president of the Searsport/Bucksport Chapter of the Propeller Club of the United States. He is also a board member of the Maine and New Hampshire Port Safety Forum. In 2000, Captain Gelinas received the United States Coast Guard Certificate of Commendation for his effort in establishing the Penobscot Bay Recommended Route for Deep Draft Vessels.

Captain Gelinas resides in Camden with his wife Rae-Ann and their son Noah. His daughter Charlotte is a graduate of the Massachusetts College of Art and design and resides in Boston.

Penobscot Bay & River Pilots Association

Pilotage in general

What's your opinion on this?

Article Port of London Authority: New Pilot Trainee

published on 13 August 2025

The PLA welcomes Sathar Sulaiman and James Kitney as they join as Trainee Marine Pilots.

Opinion Marine Pilots: Unsung Heroes Of The Shipping Industry

published on 12 August 2020

Qualified pilots are usually employed by the local port or maritime administration, and provide their services to ships for a fee, calculated in relation to the ship’s tonnage, draught or other criteria.

Video Ship Pilots (Port of Houston)

published on 14 January 2021

Video Tanker maneuvering/unmooring, "MTM Potomac", 180m

published on 17 June 2021

The "MTM Potomac" is a 180 meter tanker, without a thruster and a fixed pitch, right handed propeller (like most).
This particular maneuver consisted of backing her about a ship´s length, then swinging to port with the help of 2 ASD tugs.

Video Maritime Voices: Clint Winegar, Presiding Officer, Houston Pilots

published on 10 October 2025

Clint Winegar, Presiding Officer, Houston Pilots, discusses the organization in the round, explaining how the Houston operation remains one of three in the country that still utilizes station boat.

Video Marine Pilot Vincent's Last pilot's trip - Flemish Pilotage

published on 20 October 2021

The last pilot's trip of Vincent (Flemish pilotage). An unforgettable day provided by Vincent, his family and team 9. A trip from Vlissingen to the Zandvlietsluis on Saturday 18 September 2021.

Video Safehaven Marine: Sines big day at Daunt and offshore F9 inc crash landing

published on 18 January 2022

If you fancy seeing what it’s like aboard during some rough weather sea trials, here’s a pretty cool little video of our Interceptor 48 pilot built for the Port of Sines. Some really great Arial drone footage and interesting POV (Point of view) with narration from aboard her in 5-6m seas and in 50kt winds 25 miles offshore.
How difficult is to land a drone back down on the boat in 5-6m swells and 45-50kt wind gusts? Pretty damn difficult as it turns out! Sometimes we fail as you’ll see at...

Video North Sea pilots in the storm (documentation, german with subtitles)

published on 20 February 2023

Für Lotsen ist es der gefährlichste Moment in ihrem Berufsalltag: bei orkanartigen Böen von einem Frachtschiff eine Strickleiter herunterklettern und auf ein kleines Lotsenboot übersetzen. Mitte Januar 2023 ist ein Lotse bei Borkum ins Meer gefallen und kam mit Unterkühlungen ins Krankenhaus. Erst wenige Tage zuvor verstarb ein englischer Kollege bei diesem Manöver. Hafenlotse Gerhard Janßen und Seelotse Dominik Thieben machen sich für ihren Einsatz bereit. Bei Windstärke acht geht es mit...