Article

Command or Control?


by Capt. Gürhan Aktürk - published on 27 October 2019 1507 -

Command or Control?

“Piloting the vessels was there since there was a sea transportation”
This is one of the most popular and might be most proud phrase for pilots. During the maritime history, piloting the vessels evolved in many aspects, however main core is never changed; trustworthy colleague from neighbourhood will be close by for safe passage.

The improvement of pilotage brought many different rules, regulations, customs and traditions to regulate those services offered by trustworthy colleagues. The regulation of pilotage and the role of the pilot and his/her relationship with the master is complex and not easy to describe accurately in a few sentences.

Besides the legal base of pilotage, undoubtedly pilot is one of the main member of Bridge Team and master is the team leader and has right to command his/her vessel. This is fair enough; hence, master has all responsibility for his/her vessel when pilotage is being carry out.  Well, then Pilot? As a consultant, advisor, guide -the list can be extended- pilot has no right to command vessel but definitely he/she has right to control pilotage. Controlling pilotage covers complete cooperation of each elements such as tugboat(s) and mooring boat(s), human resources involved in and vessel!

Would like to share my experience. Upon embarkation, I did best to join Bridge Team and completely willing to carry out pre-berthing toolbox meeting. Reviewed the pilot card and Master-Pilot information exchange form presented to me. Then the master requested me to review his company’s circular concerning approach course and speed specified for our berth. The circular has issued because of the one of the fleet vessel had an undesirable experience at same berth and was requiring the attention of masters. Certainly, experience sharing is important and valuable as a lesson-learnt tool. The thing is circular was requiring masters to follow approach course and speed exactly mentioned in for berthing, however weather and current conditions have not taken into account by the company. That time master of the vessel was ready to cooperate in course of safe berthing, he deserves respect but he was also intend to comply company circular. He had the command of vessel and I had the control of Pilotage.

At the end of the story, by taking into account the prevailing weather conditions and current, we agreed on the approach course and speed, which was different from mentioned in circular and vessel safely berthed.

This is complex relationship and clearly can be say there is grey zone between commanding of vessel and controlling of the pilotage. That is why we need to think more about; is the mutual cooperation and respect between the Master of the vessel and the Pilot sufficient for safe pilotage?

 

 

Capt. Gürhan AKTÜRK

After his sea career as Class-1 Master on Crude Carriers, he worked on Safety and Quality Systems as an auditor.

Capt. Aktürk is presently Secretary General of Turkish Maritime Pilots’ Association and working as a Sea Pilot in İzmit Bay/Turkey.

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

Article Pilots and ship´s Captains

by Marine Pilot Luis Vale, Portugal - published on 23 August 2019

Lately there has been a considerable increase in opinions of seagoing ship´s masters complaining about pilotage services, expressed whether as LinkedIn articles and comments or in some reputable industry magazines.

1

Article The scariest 15 minutes of my life

by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 14 August 2019

An authentic report by Marine Pilot Capt. Agha Umar Habib (Port of Sohar, Oman) about a dramatic incident on July 23, 2019.

2

Article Who is a Marine Pilot? Comment by Reshma Nilofer Naha

by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 16 September 2019

Comment and photos by Reshma Nilofer Naha
India's first female Marine Pilot (Kalkata Port Trust)

0

Video A Day in the Life of a Marine Pilot

published on 2 April 2025

As an island nation, over 98% of Australia’s trade moves through ports. At the heart of the trade supply chain are the North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation (NQBP) marine pilots. These highly skilled maritime professionals make sure the vessels carrying goods through our ports travel safely and efficiently. Take a look at a day in the life of an NQBP marine pilot at one of Queensland’s multi-commodity ports, the Port of Mackay. Read more https://nqbp.com.au/about-us/news/articles/a-day-in-...

0

Opinion A deliberately sabotaged Pilot Ladder

by Arie Palmers - published on 16 March 2022

A court sentenced a captain to a total of 30 months imprisonment: It had been proven beyond doubt that the side ropes had been manipulated to make a ship inspection more difficult or to prevent it.

3

Video 24/7 pilot - Nederlands Loodswezen - Dutch maritime pilots

published on 4 July 2019

• The Dutch pilots offer a contribution to the safe and quick pilotage of ships to and from the Dutch ports and the Flemish ports on the Scheldt River. Each year, they assist about 100,000 ships. • Loodswezen aims to play a leading role by excelling in terms of service provision, training and education, efficiency, technology and customer satisfaction. • The highly-trained maritime pilots and other staff members work closely together to ensure safe and efficient operations in all...

0

Video A day on a tugboat, time lapse edition

published on 25 May 2020

An entire day caught in a time lapse. Up and down the river twice.
Cool prospective 12000 TEU ship Turing min 2:00. !

0

Opinion If you facilitate 90% of the world's trade, would you influence change?

by Melvin Mathews - published on 1 December 2020

Without a shadow of doubt, shipping is a key enabler of our current way of life and the globalized world we live in today. The irony is that the average person is unaware of the significance or contribution of the shipping industry and how much we rely on ships working without disruption

1

Video The port of Parnu in Estonia. Pilot boat

published on 18 March 2024

Отредактировано YouCut:https://youcut.net/BestEditor

0

Video This requires a ton of skill!

published on 17 January 2023

0