Found on YouTube. Created by "Sailor Vivek". Originally published on 2022-03-16.
Marine pilot boarding ship
A marine pilot, also called maritime pilot, harbor pilot, port pilot, ship pilot, or simply pilot, is a mariner who maneuvers ships through dangerous or congested waters, such as harbors or river mouths. They are navigational experts possessing knowledge of the particular waterway, licensed or authorised by a recognised pilotage authority.
When a ship needs to enter or leave a harbor, marine pilots are sent aboard via a small pilot boat to safely navigate the vessel through the local waterways. This operation is known as pilot transfer arrangements.
Unlike the captain and crewmembers who travel onboard the ship, marine pilots are usually stationed at the ports. While due to the nature of the work, many pilots have previously worked as a ship’s officer or master.
Marine pilots are responsible for the safety of the vessel which they are navigating, and also with the protection of the state waters, harbors, ports, the environment, life and property, including effects that ships transiting a harbor may have on other ships moored at the docks and any impact on port facilities
One thing is for sure, there is no comparison between those two, as they both provide an essential and unique service to the shipping industry.
However, the answer is simple. A marine pilot only controls ships when they’re in crowded harbors or other confined waters. Although the captain knows the ship and crew well, along with the pilot’s assistance and expertise in a particular waterway, they result to the safely navigation of the vessel.
“Ship’s masters cannot be expected to be fully conversant with the special navigational and regulatory requirements of an area”.
…European Maritime Pilots’ Association stated.
To put it straightforward, marine pilots offer local communications knowledge, which is necessary to work with local services such as tugs and linesmen.
During the pilotage, masters still retain command of their vessel, however, the direction of the movement of the vessel is turned over to the pilot in order to transit the local channels, waterways etc.
“Captains and pilots relationship is an intriguing balance of mutual trust and respect, largely unwritten, which provides an unrivalled level of safety in a society that expects, and receives, the highest of standards from the shipping industry”.
… European Maritime Pilots’ Association added.
Thus, the collaboration among the pilot and the master is necessary to avoid any hazard.
Marine pilotage working environment
Being a marine pilot requires to board vessels at sea. Although is a risky and demanding process, since the pilot needs to be reasonably fit and comfortable in working on the water and at height. In addition, pilot ladder arrangements have long been considered to be unsafe. According to IMO, one of the problems encountered by pilots is that of getting on board the ship, particularly when the weather is bad, or the ship is very large.
Marine pilots are also referred as maritime pilots, harbor pilots, port pilots, ship pilots, or simply pilots.
There is a global association for pilots known as “International Maritime Pilots’ Assosiation” which was launched in June 1970, in an effort to promote effective safety outcomes in pilotage as an essential public service. Currently, it represents 8.360 marine pilot members in 51 countries.
In English law, Section 742 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894 defines a pilot as “any person not belonging to a ship who has the conduct thereof.”
A maritime pilot, marine pilot, harbor pilot, port pilot, ship pilot, or simply pilot, is a mariner who maneuvers ships through dangerous or congested waters, such as harbors or river mouths. Maritime pilots are largely regarded as skilled professionals in navigation as they are required to know immense details of waterways such as depth, currents, and hazards, as well as displaying expertise in handling ships of all types and size. In order to obtain the title, maritime pilot, requires being an expert ship handler licensed or authorised by a recognised pilotage authority.
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