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Be A San Francisco Bar Pilot: Pilot Trainee Training Program

published on 15 March 2022 - 304 -

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The Board of Pilot Commissioners administers a maritime pilot training program. Graduates of the program become Board-licensed maritime pilots. Entrance into the program is via a selection examination.

Before submitting an application: The minimum requirements for entrance into the Pilot Trainee Training Program, are outlined in California Code of Regulations, Title 7, Subsection 213. The Board has initiated regulatory changes that will put in place new minimum experience qualifications to qualify for the exam. These will include allowing Chief Mate experience, piloting in other jurisdictions, and lower tug tonnage requirements. These rule changes can be found here. Applicants who do not meet the minimum qualifications will not be admitted to the examination.

2022 Pilot Trainee Training Program Selection Examination

The next Pilot Trainee Training Program Selection Examination will be held in June 2022 at the California State University Maritime Academy (Cal Maritime) in Vallejo, California.

2022 Exam Application
Trainee-Applicant-Handbook-2022
BOPC Exam Press Release 2022
FAQ – How to become a pilot trainee – Frequently asked questions
2019 Trainee Written Exam Reference List (this will be updated when written exam is finalized)
2019 Trainee Exam Simulator Orientation Video

San Francisco Bar Pilots

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Video Pilot Boarding for Elbe River Transit

published on 25 January 2022

Pilot Boarding for Elbe River Transit bound for Hamburg, Germany. Details from marinetraffic.com Without You by MusicbyAden | https://soundcloud.com/musicbyaden Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

Video Pilot Boarding at Sea near San Francisco

published on 26 May 2020

Found on YouTiube. Created by "David McCloy".

Video Pilot boat approaches Carnival Splendor off the coast of Victoria, Canada

published on 31 May 2022

Pilot boat approaches Carnival Splendor off the coast of Victoria, Canada

Video Safehaven Marine: Rough weather sea trials of Svitzer Oued Martil.

published on 17 March 2021

Here’s a nice little video of the sea trials of ‘Svitzer Oued Martil’ including some cool on-board 360 camera footage of her going through some pretty big breaking seas during rough weather testing, and some nice foggy day drone footage and trials alongside the Brittany Ferry ‘Armorique’.

Video Operating an STS Gantry Crane (Joystick Cam): Loading a vessel in the Port of Antwerp

published on 17 November 2020

This cabinview video shows how to control a STS crane, there will follow a video were I show you all the buttons and joystick controls. Lot of people request these video's. This shows how to operate en ship to shore crane with a joystick camera! (DUAL CAM) Make sure you LIKE and SHARE this video is you want more video's like this! Hope you enjoy! Feel free to comment & subscribe! SUB LINK: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqoYj7ua7HwHvjjjyv3VyXA?sub_confirmation=1

Video Denmark Marine Pilots

published on 6 February 2021

Follow the pilots as they go through a normal working day.

Video How to Launch a Pilot Boat–Behind the Scenes at Point Hope Shipyard

published on 20 June 2025

Welcome to Point Hope Shipyard in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. In this video, I follow the float off of the Pacific Navigator, a hardworking pilot boat that serves the Port of Victoria and Ogden Point. We watch as the vessel is pulled along the marine railway, rotated on the turntable, and positioned onto the cradle. Once secured, the cradle lowers to float-off depth, and the Pacific Navigator fires up her engines for a short harbour spin before returning to duty. Some segments,...