MARINE PILOT

The Port Phillip Sea Pilots launch Corsair working at Port Phillip Heads on a blustery day.

Port Phillip Sea Pilots are the vital link between Victoria and the world. Ports Australia spent the day with CEO Thorsten Werges at their pilot station in Queenscliff to get a glimpse into the 185-year-old organisation focusing on safety and sustainability.

INTERVIEW ON MARITIME PILOTAGE..OPERATION FILMED WHILST CONDUCTING DOCKING OF OIL TANKER....

This shows the Pilot getting off the Zaandam at Nova Scotia. Seas and wind makes it look quite dangerous.

Following a surf riding and broaching incident and subsequent collision by an experienced vessel operator, QinetiQ have been undertaking extensive investigations into the risk mitigation and safety management of pilotage operations. This presentation looks to discuss the risks presented during pilotage services, and provide a critical review of vessel design and service delivery approaches to understand the potential risk mitigations and management of pilot boat safety.

When a vessel navigates in confined waters, such as in a harbour or narrow channel, it is well known among experienced pilots that the ship handling is greatly affected by the hydrodynamic forces and moments acting between ship and bank or sidewall of the channel.

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

Improvements to pilots’ situation awareness (SA) in maritime navigation are critical to reducing human errors, which have caused 75% to 96% of marine accidents over the last few years.

Presentation by Nick Bonser at the AMPI Conference Wollongong 2022.