Article

A Day in the life of a Mentor Pilot


by North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation - published on 1 November 2021 139 -

Original Article by North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation - Photo by unsplash.com

Luke Sorensen began his career as a Marine Pilot in 2011. Now the Manager of Pilotage Services, North Queensland Bulk Ports (NQBP), he mentors Pilots moving through the NQBP Training Framework to become competent and confident in bringing ships into berth at our ports. Luke explains the process of mentoring.

Pilot training has developed significantly since I became a pilot.

As an organisation, we recognised through our continual improvement process that we would like to create more opportunities for professional development with our Pilots. We now have a detailed Training Framework developed and executed by our pilotage team.

As a team, the pilots identified that there are some challenging pilotage movements that frequently occur that pilots benefit from sharing their learnings. We now provide mentoring to both new and existing Pilots to be aware of these situations and understand how to perform these safely to ensure they are competent to conduct them independently.

This mentoring program ensures that pilots learn from someone who has had the experience and can share their expertise and learning.

Pilot Mentoring SessionOur program includes mentoring our most experienced Pilots to provide an opportunity to develop experience and skills and learn from each other continually. The training framework helps us identify complacency or old habits and helps us educate ourselves and our team on how to work towards an excellent outcome. The key to continual improvement for pilots is the want to learn more. This is what makes an exceptional Marine Pilot," said Luke.

Luke also explained that mentoring is required for each Pilot for each licence level at each Port.

"A Pilot licence is restricted by the length and beam of a vessel, and the initial round of mentoring and training is the most difficult.

This licencing requirement means that a Pilot can only control the size of vessel that they are licenced for according to size. To achieve each licence, the Pilot must complete a number of solo piloted ships; then, they advance to the next level for training.

This means that then they must complete our Observation/Mentoring and Check training program for each vessel size," said Luke.

The mentoring program is designed to ensure that the Pilot can complete complex pilotage manoeuvres during pilotage, including entering ports, transiting channels, coming alongside berth without the assistance of tugs pushing or using the weather or tide to assist.

The program also ensures all pilots are maintaining appropriate professional communication with the Port, tugs and crew to ensure every action is verbalised and understood with the teams providing support services onboard the vessel and within the bridge team, as well as support services of tugs, lines boats and shore side teams.

The verbalisation invites the bridge team into the single mental model of the Pilot's execution of the pilotage. The Captain, Officers, Tugs and Wharf is aware of the exchange, which allows the Captain to ensure their crew is aware and can make any supportive changes.

New Pilots are mentored continuously from the time of joining NQBP until their level 1 licence is achieved. The process is extensive, and it can take up to 18 months of full-time training for a Pilot just for one NQBP Port.

"A Pilot will be licensed for one Port initially, and this may be for a substantial period before beginning training at another Port. For example, we have two pilots who have been piloting ships at the Port of Hay Point for nearly seven years and have only just commenced their training for Mackay. This process will take them approximately two years to become fully licenced for Mackay," said Luke.
What's your opinion on this?
Login or register to write comments and join the discussion!
Read more...

Video Kittiwake Mersey Pilot

published on 22 December 2021

KITTIWAKE ( MMSI 232008570) is a Pilot and currently sailing under the flag of United Kingdom (UK) Here she is speeding down the River this morning.

0

Video Pilot Boat "Petrel" (River Mersey)

published on 16 December 2021

River Mersey Pilot Boat going slowly inbound on the river before turning and heading northbound again.

0

Video Pilot Leaving Ship Vigo

published on 31 March 2023

0

Article Man dies after falling from pilot boat (Canada)

published on 28 September 2022

The RCMP are investigating the death of a man who went overboard outside St. John's harbour from a pilot boat early Tuesday morning.

1

Article Gladding-Hearn Delivers High-Speed Launch to St. Lawrence Seaway Pilots

published on 21 August 2020

Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation delivered a Chesapeake class pilot boat to the Seaway Pilots Inc. in Cape Vincent, NY. The Seaway pilots navigate ships in and out of the ports and harbors of the St. Lawrence Seaway between St. Regis, NY and Port Weller on Lake Ontario.

0

Article Maryland Pilots Places Order for Another Baltimore Class Launch from

published on 26 May 2023

The Association of Maryland Pilots has ordered a new pilot boat from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation.

0

Video Next Generation Pilot Boat

published on 1 April 2021

20mt Pilot Boat Concept Design

0

Video Disembarking of Danpilot at Skagen V73

published on 15 June 2020

Enjoy the tour from Bridge to Pilot ladder, disembarking of Danpilot.

0

Video Muir Pilot Strait Of Canso

published on 4 March 2024

Pilot boat "Muir Pilot" departing Pirate Harbour

0