AMPI Hobart 2023 – Building Resilient Pilotage Conference

Some ship handlers today use electronic instruments from start to finish and these ships usually have powerful engines and thrusters and an almost unlimited number of personnel on the bridge.

We we’re out on sea trials with the two newly launched Interceptor 48 pilot boats when the Port of Cork pilot boat ‘Failte’ passed by to undertake a pilot transfer from an outbound ship. It was a nice opportunity to capture some cool video of the action as the boats ran alongside before the ship turned to create a lee for the pilot to disembark. Although the seas weren’t very big, it was blowing hard at the time with gusts of over 50kts recorded at Roches PT lighthouse as we passed.

got bored waiting around in the anchorage! gotta love jet boat maneuverability! 360's for days
#pilotboattexas #GaltexPilots #harborpilots #gladdinghearn #rayhuntdesign #hamiltonjet #cumminspowered

Pilot boats in action. The key elements for a safe pilot transfer.

The investment in the vessels to work on the busy waterways will see the arrival next year of the next generation of pilot boats built by Holyhead Marine.

Arrivée au Havre de la pilotine Hirondelle de la Manche

On july 1st, the 327 meters long bulk carrier SHINWA MARU entered Port of Rotterdam with 20,6 meters draft, underway to EECV terminal at the Caland channel, Europoort. Due to her draft she transited the Eurochannel.

This video briefly describes the special operation of transfer of marine pilots at sea

In early December, just as I was starting to get into ship spotting, I saw a couple of vessels headed up river towards Philly. One of them, the Cielo di Iyo met with the harbor pilot right as I had my drone up. I was able to capture the Pilot coming to meet the vessel and CLIMBING the ladder to get on board just before she passed beneath the Walt Whitman Bridge.