River Boat Pilot

How do marine pilots work? Example: Bringing a bulkcarrier alongside to „Hansaport“ in Hamburg. Here the tugboats „Prompt“, „Resolute“ and „Bulldog“ are involved. The master has to rely on the pilot. One reason is, that he can‘t know how to deal with these tugs. A maneuver like this is only safe, when the pilot has a lot of practical experience. A master who is doing a maneuver like this only about once or twice a month and each time with tugs he doesn’t know in areas he hasn’t been to...

photo and article by Luis Vale, Portugal

A feature on the vital component that moves a heavy vessel - the propulsion system. With some ships carrying hundreds of tons of cargo, it requires a robust propulsion system to propel the massive vessel across the vast ocean.

by "Domonkos Baráth" on YouTube.
Boarding with pilot ladder to Soyo LNG tanker near Cadiz

P&O Maritime Logistics officially taking over the pilotage operations for the ports of Jebel Ali and Port Rashid in the UAE.Topaz Energy and Marine has merged with P&O Maritime and become P&O Maritime Logistics. Jebel Ali Pilots are now members of ISPO | International Standard for maritime Pilot Organizations.

The smart fairway digitalization pilot is a part of the EMMA Extension project that is funded by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme. This summer, 34 smart buoys were installed in the Saimaa deep fairway, which is Finland’s most important inland waterway for merchant shipping.
Safety is enhanced in particular by the fact that the pilots and VTS can adjust the light output of beacons and the rhythm of lights to support the navigation of vessels in poor visibility and weather conditions....

This documentary made in 1959 in the popular Look at Life series is from Volume 5 - Cultural History and takes a journey along the River Thames passing several famous buildings and monuments such as - County Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Shell Mex House which has the biggest clock face in London. Cleopatra's Needle, St Paul's Cathedral, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Port of London Authority, Prospect of London Pub, Port of London Docks.

UKMPA has released a notice to their members today regarding the so-called non compliant trapdoors. Vessels have been rejected entrance, talks have started with different shipping companies.

These are images that no one wants to see. How can people take such a risk and behave so unprofessionally? Purely a matter of luck whether you come home again in the evening!