Article

Sandy Hook pilot Dennis Sherwood has died after falling during embarking


by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 30 December 2019 15830 -

photo by Sandy Hook Pilots Association

Dennis Sherwood, a pilot of Sandy Hook fell backwards off a ladder while boarding a ship today at 4:30 a.m. and died of his serious injury in Staten Island hospital, according to U.S. Coast Guard reports. A routine investigation of the accident has been initiated.

Although no name of the ship has been provided, the accident appears to have occurred while boarding the Maersk Kensington (U.S. flag, IMO: 9333010), which came from Algeciras, Spain. Her gross tonnage is 74642 and deadweight is 84688. MAERSK KENSINGTON was built in 2007. MAERSK KENSINGTON length overall (LOA) is 299.47 m, beam is 40 m. Her container capacity is 6200 TEU. The ship is operated by MAERSK LINE LTD-USA.
During the accident the wave height was 4-5 feet with a wind speed of 30 knots.


It is important to find out what happened and how such an incident could possibly be avoided in the future. The analysis of aviation accidents should be a blueprint for maritime accident investigations. It is absolutely exemplary.

Marine-Pilots.com will continue to report in the coming hours. Our thoughts are with the relatives. It's a sad day at the end of the year...

Dennis Sherwood piloted vessels in and out of the Port of New York and New Jersey for 35 years. He is survived by his four children and his wife.

What's your opinion on this?
Login or register to write comments and join the discussion!
Read more...

Article In Memoriam of Captain Dennis R. Sherwood (1955 - 2019)

by Bianca Reineke, lutheran Pastor, Germany - published on 3 January 2020

Ladders are the bridges for crossing the rough seas of our lives.
When you are a Marine Pilot at work, hoping and praying that the ladders which let you embark the vessel are stable, safe and not dangerous.
In Memoriam of the late Captain Dennis Sherwood who passed away on Monday the 30th of December.

1

Article Death of Pilot Dennis Sherwood: IMPA President statement to IMO. New photos of Maersk Kensington.

by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 23 January 2020

IMPA President makes a statement to IMO on January 17th regarding the passing of Captain Dennis Sherwood. A letter to IMO was published via Twitter today.

0

Article Request from the American Pilots’ Association to State Pilotage Authorities Regarding Pilot Safety

by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 20 February 2020

The American Pilots’ Association has sent a letter to state pilotage authorities across the United States on behalf of approximately 1,200 American ship pilots to improve safety pilot safety following the death of a New York pilot in December.

0

Video Singapore strait accident: Iranian Container Ship MV SHAHRAZ broke into two

published on 19 May 2020

Container ship SHAHRAZ and bulk carrier SAMUDRA SAKTI I are reported to run aground in Singapore Strait south of St John Island at around 1900 UTC May 10, close to each other, while proceeding in the same direction, probably trying to avoid collision. As of 0700 UTC May 11, both ships remain in the same positions, coordinates don’t change. SHAHRAZ is en route from Port Klang to Yangshan China, SAMUDRA SAKTI I is en route from Belawan to Bayah, southwest Java.

0

Article An Analysis of Pilotage Marine Accidents in Korea (2019)

published on 18 August 2020

Since the late 2000s, a debate has been sparked on the most suitable age of retirement for Korean pilots. The debate has focused on the extension of retirement age of pilots from 65 to 68 and whether this will affect the probability of marine accidents.

0

Article Study: Identifying cognitive challenges for safe ship overtaking in restricted

by Stella Parisi & Dimitris Nathanael - published on 9 February 2026

Navigation in constrained waters is a cognitively challenging task for seafarers requiring the combined assessment of various elements to perform it with safety. This paper presents a approach to make sense of the dynamic, uncertain,and complex work domain of sea pilotage.

0

Video CMA CGM MISSOURI 300m Container Ship grounded in Suez Canal

published on 14 October 2020

Container ship CMA CGM MISSOURI ran aground in Suez Canal while transiting in southern direction, at around 0930 UTC Oct 14. As of 1745 UTC, probably refloated or moved, several Suez Canal tugs attending. Traffic probably suspended, but it’s not confirmed. No information on what caused grounding.
Container ship CMA CGM MISSOURI, IMO 9679919, dwt 115600, capacity 9448 TEU, built 2016, flag Liberia.

0

Article TRENZ Introduces SIRIUS+: The Next Generation PPU with Enhanced Performance

by TRENZ GmbH - published on 15 May 2025

TRENZ, a leading manufacturer from Germany, is expanding its product lineup with the launch of SIRIUS+, a high-performance Portable Pilot Unit (PPU). As an evolution of the widely recognized SIRIUS model, the new device features cutting-edge technology designed for maximum precision and reliability, particularly for use on Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs).

1

Video Kewatec Pilot 1820

published on 7 October 2021

Kewatec Pilot 1820 is the flagship in the pilot boat fleet of the Kewatec AluBoat shipyard. It is designed for the Atlantic coast of Norway, where there are many in use.

0

Video Illinois boat captain recalls treacherous winter voyage across Lake Michigan | ChicagoLIVE

published on 10 February 2026

A U.S. federal pilot shares his experience navigating icy waters on Lake Michigan.

0