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 Vídeo Institucional Oficial da Praticagem do Brasil

published on 3 September 2019

The practice is essential to the safety of waterway traffic, as it avoids or minimizes accidents that can cost the lives of people, cause damage to the environment and enormous material losses.
The structure is fully maintained by the practicing companies themselves, without the contribution of any public resource, related to the maintenance of the speedboats, the 24-hour operation of their Operations Centers, the training of their employees, the acquisition and maintenance of communication,...

0

Video From Dusk to Dawn - SOHAR Port

published on 3 June 2021

From Dusk to Dawn SOHAR Port and Freezone
Pacific Warrior (ULOC)
LOA 360m. Draft 22.3 m. Displacement 430k

0

Video Maldives Pilotage

published on 22 November 2019

MALDIVES PILOTAGE

0

Video Documentation: How New York Harbor Pilots Master Treacherous Waters

published on 10 September 2020

What does it mean to be a harbor pilot? More info here: http://gothamist.com/2016/05/26/video_ny_harbor_pilot.php Starring Robert J. Blake, Jr. Video by Jessica Leibowitz Produced by Jessica Leibowitz and Shayla Love MORE GOTHAMIST FILMS Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/Gothamist Dailymotion: http://www.dailymotion.com/Gothamist GOTHAMIST ACROSS THE WEB Gothamist.com: http://gothamist.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Gothamist/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/gothamist Instagram: https:/...

1

Video M/V Santa Loretta Precision Tug Maneuver (AHDPA)

published on 25 June 2020

Jacksonville FL - June 2020 4K

0

Video Pilot Boat LUCIDA (Netherlands)

published on 12 September 2022

0

Video The work of a Pilot on the tidal Thames, UK - 2010

published on 18 March 2021

10 years back in time: Port of London Authority Pilot Jon Stafford talks about his work and the challenges of guiding large ships safely into and out of the Port of London.

2

Article New Pilot Boat for Virginia Pilots

published on 2 April 2025

The Virginia Pilot Association has added a new high-speed pilot launch to its fleet, delivered by Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation. This marks the tenth vessel built by the Somerset, Massachusetts yard for the association since 1983

0

Article Concept of Reskilling for Automation Collaboration in Maritime Piloting

published on 22 August 2022

Advanced automation has been highlighted as contributory to several accidents involving modern bridge support systems and automation aiding maritime pilots for maneuvering and navigation. This paper argues for reskilling for automation collaboration.

1

Article GPS interference and jamming on the increase

published on 2 October 2020

Ships have reported an increasing number of cases of significant GPS interference and jamming in recent months. The geographic areas with more than one reported incident include the eastern and central Mediterranean Sea, the Persian Gulf, and multiple Chinese ports.

1