Duty Harbormaster

Pilot boat with 5 people on board collided with breakwater at Kobe Port, Japan, at around 0300 Tokyo time Sep 4. 52-year old skipper of the boat, and 71-year old pilot, died in the collision, 3 crew were seriously injured.

These are various views of the pilot vessels coming and going from the pilot dock in Vlissingen prior to 2020.

The construction and commissioning of a new pilot boat for Jacobsen Pilot Service in great pictures.

Here's the full video of recent sea trials with our two pilot boats including storm Ciara, three boats together and some boarding runs. Its quite an interesting little video with some great footage.

In this breathtaking drone video, we bring you an up-close and personal look at the Pilot Boat Yellow Rose in action. Watch as the skilled crew expertly maneuvers the vessel through the water, guiding large ships safely into port. With our high-quality aerial footage, you'll get a bird's-eye view of the Yellow Rose in action, as she weaves through the waves, making precise turns and executing complicated docking maneuvers. You'll be amazed at the precision and skill of the crew as they work...

Tag along as we journey through Suez Canal into Mediterranean Sea.
The ship is on a 77 days voyage from Asia to East Coast United States in which we've taken the Suez Canal route. By using Suez Canal instead of around cape of Africa, this will save more than 5000 miles of fuel and time.
The time-lapse was taken over 16 hours.

London Pilots (PLA) have issued an excellent quick reference guide for Pilot Transfer arrangements, which can be used for pilots as well as ship’s crews. Please take not of this document and if you can, try to incorporate it into your procedures.

“We haven't built the perfect boat.”
That's the view of Alan Goodchild from Goodchild Marine, one of the many industry voices who spoke to The Full Ahead Podcast at Seawork, Europe's largest on-water commercial marine and workboat exhibition.
Hear from Alan who talks about the development of the Orca 17m pilot boat.

New guidance for PBAs with trapdoors. Released 4.11.2020 at NZMPA Conference in Dunedin, NZ. Distinct difference to suggestions in many other countries, is that we challenge operators who have the ladder suspended from the accommodation ladder (gangway) and not secured to the ship. SOLAS states that pilot ladder shall be secured to the ship, and securing strongpoints, shackles and ropes shall be as strong as the sideropes.