Opinion

What value do 10K+ Professionals add to Safety of Manoeuvres


by CAPTAIN REGINALDO PANTOJA - published on 29 September 2022 240 -

Text and images by Maritime Pilot of Rio Grande/Brazil Harbour Reginaldo Pantoja


HIGH-PERFORMANCE TEAMS IN PILOTAGE
Pilotage is an essential service, it requires high value-added technical expertise, constant training, and teamwork.
Under the management of a high-performance team, pilotage services' safety, efficiency and productivity significantly contribute to harmonizing the interests of maritime trade and the protection of the sensitive environment of ports.
Special missions require skilled and well-trained professionals to perform them.
A high-performance team preparation invests time and practice with a methodology to reach a level of excellence compatible with maritime trade demands.


TRAINING
According to many training experts, including Malcom Gladwell, from his book Outliers: Story of Success, 10.000 hours is the point in which a standard professional acquires the qualities necessary to perform any work with master skill. Let's assume that marine pilots need approximately 10,000 manoeuvres (10K) to reach equivalent level. After reaching this point, the professional has adequate knowledge to manage new situations learned with the competence taught by training.


HOW TO CONSTRUCT AN ACCIDENT (THE FLEXIBLE METHOD)
Some professionals develop their own styles and apply them with questionable flexibilities as time passes.
The accidents result from styles that come from the professional's comfort zone.
This type of attitude leads some of these professionals to continue the path of repeating their flexible methodology, increasing the margin of error, and reducing the possibility for efficient risk management.
Playing as a professional in the comfort zone is simpler.
The flexible methodology does not consider the stumbles and warnings of near missing. It does not address essential details in time to avoid the assembling of a future accident.
Lessons learned and protocols are partially assimilated more by fright than by a rigid mandatory process.
The styles that do not adopt the ballast of norms/resolutions impede the essential training necessary for applying immediate actions in the event of an error chain.
The continuation of training outside the proper methods results that, even in the 10K+ condition, some professionals cannot manage a contingency situation properly.
Have they been trained exhaustively to react in time to stop it?
Training skills to apply a standard operational procedure is impossible without proper methodology and methodical training, including contingency in adequate time.


SAFETY VALUES
In the case of marine pilots, the basis that maintains the level of training necessary to perform the manoeuvres safely is the continuous repetition of the technical methodology recommended in norms and resolutions.
The dimensions of the vessels are increasing. The effects of the current, wind, shallow water and others are considerable during their passage along the channels until the berth.
Many TCPAs and CPAs requiring precise risk management are floating around from PBP until the berth and vice versa.
The IMO Resolution A.960 (23) must be entirely followed and practiced by professionals who manage risks so that its content can have the effects foreseen in its adoption. It is the master guide for shiphandlers.
Marine pilot refresher courses should prioritize checklists and standard operating procedures.
They are essential tools for risk management.
To add safety value to the process, the ship handling specialists need the proper training and follow-up over time to help them reach the 10K+ phase with the competence that congested maritime port traffic expects from them.
One of the strengths of high-performance teams is training focused on the skills needed to perform the job safely and quickly.


ACCIDENTS WITH EXPERIENCIED MARITIME PILOTS (10K+ PILOTS)
As an instructor of refresher courses for pilots, I read many analyses of accidents where the captain and pilot are professionals of more than 10,000 manoeuvres experience (10K+).
The more we delve into the analysis of accidents, the more we find that we can avoid a significant percentage of these just by applying the simple tools recommended in the IMO Resolution A.960 (23).
Considering my restrict analysis of accidents involving 10K+ professionals, the absence of a checklist and a standard operating procedure stand out among the contributing factors observed.


THE 10K+ SHIPHANDLERS DOING THEIR BEST
What value do 10K+ shiphandlers add to the safety of the manoeuvres?
After all, they are white-haired professionals, and the captains trust them. Their fellow 10K- shiphandlers see them as role models.
We need to train, adjust, create, share, and navigate with the safety of those who know that the game of manoeuvres requires competence to finish successfully.
Manoeuvre after manoeuvre, 10K+ marine pilots should take the route that turns them into old and experienced pilots.
Otherwise, as time goes on, they will only be old pilots.
Editor's note:
Opinion pieces reflect the personal opinion of individual authors. They do not allow any conclusions to be drawn about a prevailing opinion in the respective editorial department. Opinion pieces might be deliberately formulated in a pronounced or even explicit tone and may contain biased arguments. They might be intended to polarise and stimulate discussion. In this, they deliberately differ from the factual articles you typically find on this platform, written to present facts and opinions in as balanced a manner as possible.
Dock Master, Mooring Master, Towing Master, Ship to Ship operations, ocean sailingoats, active marine pilot - Praticagem Rio Grande


manoeuvering and sailing is the reason to live

Join the conversation...

Login or register to write comments and join the discussion!
RC
Ricardo Caballero Vega Panama Canal Pilots Association, Panama
on 30 September 2022, 14:11 UTC

A great article. It points out a difficult aspect of piloting. There is always this question on how a a pilot that has proven himself efficient and safe becomes involved in an accident. When complancency becomes part of a procedure, even if subtle, it also becomes the potential cause of an accident. Or it could be the unnotticed link of the chain that lead to an accident. This is why constant training, sharing of information, establishing procedures and reviewing them in a regular basis, is a necessitty. Making the distinction between old and experienced, is making the distinction between safe piloting and just piloting.
1

Read more...

Video M+ Maritime I ECDIS Safety Settings | Full Video | Episode 1

published on 11 July 2020

M+ releases the 1st video of ECDIS competency series on “Safety Settings” presented by Safe Lanes. Use them for training crew, enhance safety standards & professional knowledge. Stay tuned for our upcoming series on ECDIS competency, Anchor losses, Incidents, PCS & vetting preparations & Human Elements training. These “first of it's kind” learning videos are based on PSC & vetting observations to provide solutions & enhance your professional competency. Pls feel free to connect to get a...

2

Video Professor Patrick Hudson: Safety Culture and Leadership

published on 23 February 2023

Professor Patrick Hudson discusses safety culture and leadership.

0

Video ARPA Ground & Sea Stabilisation (Speed over ground & through water) |

published on 11 July 2020

M+ releases it's next interactive video on 'ARPA Ground & Sea Stabilisation; an explanation of 'Speed over ground & Speed through water. Use this video for training crew, enhance safety standards & professional knowledge. Stay tuned for our upcoming series on ECDIS competency, Anchor losses, Incidents, PCS & vetting preparations & Human Elements training. These ‘first of it's kind’ learning videos are based on PSC & vetting observations to provide solutions & enhance your professional...

0

Article Crowley Completes First U.S. Design for Fully Electric Tug

published on 21 April 2021

Crowley Engineering Services has completed the design of the first fully electric U.S. tugboat with autonomous technology — providing operators a sustainable and high-performing solution for ship assist and harbor services in any port.

0

Video The Basics of Ship Handling

published on 17 June 2021

Join our Exclusive Community over on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CasualNavigation In this video we take a look at the basics of ship handling, illustrating how a cruise ship can manoeuvre in a tight space. ---------------JOIN OUR COMMUNITY---------------- We have launched a new community of maritime enthusiasts over on Patreon. ★ https://www.patreon.com/CasualNavigation When you join, you will become part of an Exclusive Community, gain Early Access to our YouTube videos*, receive...

0

Video Amazing Piloting I How A Pilot Drives The Ship

published on 3 May 2021

A ship may berth port or starboard side on or bow or stem on. The term “berth” refers to the quay, or wharf, or, pier or jetty where the ship comes alongside, but it may also mean a place in which a vessel is moored or anchored.

0

Video Departure pier#44 June 2020 Constanta Port, Romania

published on 26 June 2020

Video by marine pilot ESIL ABIBULA.

1

Video Captain Brown, Harbor Pilot (1950)

published on 6 January 2025

The film "Captain Brown Harbor Pilot" depicts the crucial role of harbor pilots in safely navigating large ships into ports, particularly during foggy conditions. It follows Bob, who learns from his Uncle Captain Brown about the various signals, equipment, and safety measures involved in harbor navigation. The film emphasizes the importance of pilots, who are trained to manage the complexities of harbor traffic, communicate with ships, and ensure safe docking. Viewers also see the...

0

Video Taiwan’s first female maritime pilot|Taiwan News

published on 16 July 2024

As Taiwan’s first female maritime pilot, Huang Chao-ling battles wind and waves every day as she guides ships safely into port. Her profession is high-risk and ultra-specialized, requiring years of experience at sea. Huang’s remarkable career is featured in Episode 50 of "The Soul of the Craftsman," a video series produced by the General Association of Chinese Culture. As strong winds blow and the rope ladder sways, maritime pilot Huang Chao-ling clambers up the ship, so that she can guide...

0

Article Goodchild Marine to Build New Pilot Boat for Portland Port

published on 2 December 2022

Portland Harbour Authority in Dorset are set to benefit from a new pilot boat built by Goodchild Marine Services Limited.

1