IMPA is hosting examples of best practice and protocols during Covid-19 times

The United Kingdom Maritime Pilots' Association (UKMPA) has all been inundated with CV19 communications from all manner of sources in the last few weeks. Here is a condensed collection of information from the UKMPA.

On Monday, March 23, 2020, Admiral Osama Rabie announced the successful transit of the Italian passenger ship COSTA DIADEMA in the northbound convoy through the new Suez Canal, coming from the United Arab Emirates heading to Italy. Special measures were applied, as 65 Coronavirus cases were reported on board which required piloting the vessel remotely through pilotage team boarded on two escorting tugs in full coordination with the transit control offices and navigation monitoring stations in a first of its kind scenario in the history of the Suez Canal.

Fewer vessels in voyage mean less pilotage and this means less income for many Pilots. Not every Pilot is an employee and many pilots are self-employed and organised in a brotherhood per example. They are earning only money if they are piloting a vessel. No vessel – no money.

This year, the Chinese New Year holiday celebrates the year of the Rat. The Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year is celebrated by more than 20% of the world’s population. More than that, it is also the longest seasonal holiday in China. Most of the population saves up its annual holidays to take a few weeks off and spend time with the family.

The European Maritime Pilots' Association (EMPA) has compiled a very good overview of current (and also country-specific) documents concerning the COVID-19 pandemic on its website. This page is updated regularly.

TRENZ proudly present you the next generation portable pilot unit. "SIRIUS" has been redesigned to allow more functionality and precision now and new features in the future. www.trenz-ppu.com SIRIUS Features: High-precision Rate of Turn (ROT) achieved through dual gyroscope and accelerometer integration, utilizing the TRENZ Sensor Fusion algorithm Standard-precision GNSS receiver supporting four concurrent constellations (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou) and augmentation via SBAS Advanced AIS/...

Information about Corona, COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2.

The IMPA has published on 30th June 2020 a letter about crew exchange in times of corona. Read the letter here:

Queensland and one of Australia’s longest serving custom commercial and recreational boat builders, Norman R. Wright & Sons, has secured the contract to build 2 new custom designed 14.8 metre Pilot Boats for PNG Ports Corporation from Papua New Guinea.

A small video tutorial showing some useful tips for pilotage using Transas Pilot PRO application for iPad - Part 2, Berthing