Article

Hymn to the Pilot: A poem written by a harbour pilot


by Mohammed Rida El Mariky - published on 26 February 2022 343 -

The author’s name is Mohammed Rida El Mariky, a senior pilot at Tangier Med Complex. He has 14 years pf pilotage experience in various Moroccan port and holds a Ph.D in Admiralty Law from the prestigious Paul Cézanne Faculty, Aix-en-Provence, France. He has published a collection of short stories (‘L’Odeur du luzin’) as well as a collection of poems (‘Les mot qui tanguen’)

Below is El Mariky’s poem in the original French, followed by his own English translation.

Hymn to the Pilot

by Mohammed Rida El Mariky

From the quay you jump into your boat
To rally the caravel offshore
Skillful and prompt you climb her ladder
On the bulkheads her spreaders hammer

By his welcoming on the bridge
Eager and garnished with zeal
The Raïs greets and you are still breathless
As a man of the place you thin his artfulness

Diaphanous the caravel travels and fascinates
A crew mumbling
His gibberish as you collate
Information quickly turned into orders that you give

The ship flanks the berth
Graciously handled and safely moored
Courteous you announce to disembark
To leave your ephemeral team

You pilot with velvet hands
Ambassador of your homeland and its openwork
From which spring the rays of bravery
And faithful to its calls you run

Join the conversation...

Login or register to write comments and join the discussion!
RC
Ricardo Caballero Vega Panama Canal Pilots Association, Panama
on 5 March 2022, 16:58 UTC

Great!!
0

Read more...

Video Kenya’s First Female Marine Pilot Elizabeth Marami

published on 13 January 2021

Elizabeth Marami, 28, has made history by becoming Kenya’s first female marine pilot. Born and bred in the coastal city Mombasa, Marami initially studied law at the University of Nairobi, but later changed course and went on to pursue navigation in Alexandria, Egypt for 5 years. “I always grew up knowing that I wanted to do something different, Something out of the ordinary. Being awarded a scholarship to pursue this career was God’s answered prayer…,” she says.

0

Video Berthing Hamburg port - Pilots' masterpiece

published on 6 May 2020

"A routine pilot task"

0

Video Training of the Elbe pilots - documentary (in german)

published on 6 November 2020

Die Lotsenbrüderschaft Elbe ist ein geschlossener Kreis, der sich nicht gern in die Karten schauen lässt. Wer dort Mitglied werden und bis zu 400 Meter lange Containerpötte in den Hamburger Hafen steuern möchte, muss hohe Anforderungen erfüllen. Bewerber müssen mehrere Jahre lang zur See gefahren sein, um ausreichend Fahrpraxis zu haben. Aber es gibt immer weniger deutsche Seeleute, weil die Reeder billigere Kräfte aus dem Ausland bevorzugen. Dadurch wird es zunehmend schwierig,...

0

Article Five questions for John Redman, Co President at Jacksonville Docking Pilots

published on 26 February 2021

In our new new section “Five questions for ..." Marine-Pilots.com introduces pilots and other market players to our readers in short interviews.

Today we have talked to John Redman, Co President at Jacksonville Docking Pilots.

1

Opinion What is the added value of pilotage?

by Ed Verbeek Nautical Consultancy and Training - published on 7 December 2020

The individual pilot operates as part of a pilotage organisation. And, as with so many things, the whole is (much) more than the sum of the parts ...

0

Video Dr Paul Luckin, AMSA survivability expert, on lifejackets

published on 6 October 2022

There are a number of things you can do to service and care for your lifejacket, including regular checks and maintenance, proper storage and ensuring you have one for every passenger on your vessel. But if you aren’t wearing it when an emergency occurs, it is very unlikely it will save your life.
We spoke with AMSA survival expert Dr Paul Luckin to learn more about lifejacket essentials.

0

Video Harbor Pilots - They park big ships. This is how.

published on 30 September 2022

A harbor pilot has the difficult job of bringing ships into port. A candidate for Albay Yacht Club has invited me to document the process. I went with Jud, the harbor pilot.

0

Article Covid-19 Pilotage Guidelines by country (gathered by IMPA)

by Frank Diegel - published on 25 October 2021

Each pilot association and each country can get a good overview of how other colleagues approach safety.
Ship crews can see which rules apply in which country.
In any case, this list from IMPA is worth looking through and reading.

0

Video Handling a mid size container ship

published on 26 June 2020

"Mizar" is a 165 LOA containership, which follows a liner route between the caribbean and the US.
It has a fixed pitch propeller and a bow thruster, which makes it easier to handle. This maneuver consisted of basically just pulling her off the dock and then doing a 160 turn.

0

Video Maritime Pilot - 8,000 Piloted moves - Episode 11

by Dr. Captain Ahmed Sati - published on 18 December 2024

Congratulation to Ahmed Sati for 8,000 moves!

1