Article

Marine Pilots are experts in trusting. They simple have to be....


by Bianca Reineke, lutheran Pastor, Germany - published on 13 February 2020 796 -

Photo from www.HarbourPilot.es

„In God we trust“ - this short sentence can be found on the one dollar note. Marine Pilots for example are experts in trusting. They simple have to be....

And we often think „In God we trust“ is a biblical verse. But it s not a quotation from the word of God. It` s a way to express our faith, our trust and hope in him. And we do not just seek and find trust in a greater power. There is much more to that. Lots of things in our lives are dependent on other people`s ability and professionalism -in which we simply have to trust.
Sometimes I just have to let go, have to be trustful - and put my life in the hands of others.
Not just metaphorically, but in the harsh reality of life and work.

Marine Pilots are experts in their fields, they are needed and their profession ist more important than lots of people know. Shipping and trading wouldn`t be possible without them, that´s a fact.

But we tend to forget how much faith and trust they need to do their jobs: getting from the pilot boat to the vessel is always a dangerous leap.
In the last weeks we sadly had to watch near fatal- and fatal- incidents while doing so.

And as I do not know whether many of them are religious in any way, or if they say their prayers while embarking the vessel, one thing I am sure of: they have to trust other people to be able to do their work.

They have to be sure that the ladder the ship provides for embarking is safe, stable and secure. They have to believe that the quality has been checked and proven. They have to know everything about the tides, the water, the waves and the weather.

Marine Pilots have to think, breathe and live the sentence: in other people we trust.

Even if they do not know them. And in most of the boardings they don`t. So they have to simply trust in other people`s ability and knowledge to do their jobs.
That cannot be easy I guess.

I do trust lots of people, caring for my child, my health, my wellbeing, my salary being paid, my church being heated, my safety belt being secure...And lots of people do trust in me. That is a big responsility I am willing to take. It´s part of my job and my life.

Whether you trust in God or any other higher power to survive, to thrive and to improve is not important. The important thing is that everyone who is involved in doing and supporting a dangerous job, has to take it seriously.
Leaps of faith aren`t easy. They tend to cost a lot of courage, energy - and trust...

Those who are trusted in have to be worth it. Especially when lives depend on them.

As a Marine Pilot you have to trust in the people helping you to embark. In the material of the ladder and in the knowledge of the men handling it.

It is important to remember that these men and women put their lives in the hand of others, so we can live with all the comfort trading via vessels gives us. And that´s a lot.

Believe in something. Whatever it is.


God can be found everywhere. He wants to be found. And he is there in the deep waters as well.

There is no „In God we trust“ quotation in the holy bible, but there is one verse in Psalm 89 concerning the waters. The waters of life and the harsh reality of the oceans where Marine Pilots are working in.

„God. You rule over the surging sea, when its waves mount up, you still them“

In that I trust.

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

Video How A Pilot Boards A Ship

published on 27 September 2020

Watch and learn how a pilot boards a container ship before entering port.
In this video, a container ship bound for Houston, Texas is boarded by a Houston Pilot before entering the Houston Ship Channel.
#maritime #HoustonPilots #houstonshipchannel

0

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

Opinion Rituals around shipping. The „Titanic“ never got its name in a christening...

by Bianca Reineke, lutheran Pastor, Germany - published on 23 December 2022

Do you ever leave the harbour to get on a vessel you will guide along without a ritual? Whatever we trust in, whatever the rituals or traditions you Marine Pilots have - when you board your pilot boats, climb the ladders, get the vessels through the harbour - keep them and cherish them, they are good and they are important.

2

Video Houston Pilotage with Oil Tanker

published on 30 March 2022

Time lapse video showing Houston Pilotage with Oil/Chemical Tanker Ship: Kastav - Oil / Chemical Tanker Area: Houston Camera: Go Pro Hero 3 BE Copyright: The Sea Lad *To use this video in a commercial player or in broadcasts, please contact Us* You can find Us on: FB: https://www.facebook.com/thesealad YouTube: https://goo.gl/PcwM6k Google+:https://goo.gl/kHOOO9 Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thesealad Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheSeaLad1 Seafarers Jobs: http://jobatseas.blogspot....

0

Video Batangas Harbor Pilot on call - From home to work

published on 3 May 2020

From home to work.

0

Video History: Helicopter Transport Elbe River-Pilot (1961)

published on 18 May 2020

Unissued / Unused material - Hamburg, West Germany (FDR - Federal Republic of Germany). German helicopters are used to carry river boat pilots to where they are needed. Big CU Helicopter pilot talking into mouthpiece. Aerial view from helicopter of boat below. MS as the helicopter comes in and lands on deck of the ship. Various shots as pilot is picked up from lightship and flown off in helicopter. LS From bridge of ship as helicopter flies overhead. CU Small bird sitting on capstan. (f.g....

0

Video La station de pilotage des ports de Casablanca et Jorf-Lasf

published on 16 July 2020

The pilot station of the ports of Casablanca and Jorf-Lasfar operates in accordance with the 1937 Dahir on the reorganization of the pilot station of the port of Casablanca, which regulates all aspects of the organization and operation of the station, including the recruitment of pilots, as well as the pension and relief fund.
With the advent of Law 15/02 in 2005 on port reform, the station spontaneously adhered to it by creating a commercial company in application of article 13 of the said...

0

Video Frontal collision between two vessels on Welland Canal yesterday (Canada)

published on 12 July 2020

An investigation is underway following a collision between "Florence Spirit" and "Alanis" in the Welland Canal. The incident occurred around 4 p.m. Saturday near Port Robinson when the dry bulk cargo ship "Alanis", which was carrying windmill parts to Duluth, Minnesota, collided during a passing maneuver with the "Florence Spirit", which was carrying coal on its way to Quebec. Editors Note: According to the "Welland Tribune", the Florence Spirit was heading down the canal while the MV...

0

Video Electronic charts: S-100 Essential tool for marine pilots

published on 21 June 2021

Who knows the S-100 / S-102 electronic card standard? An introduction by the Maritime Simulation and Resource Centre, Canada

0