Marine Pilot

WESTDIEP PILOT (IMO: 9568988) is a Pilot Ship that was built in 2011 (10 years ago) and is sailing under the flag of Belgium.

Handed over to leading global towage operator Svitzer in August 2023, Svitzer Marlin is the first example of Dongara Marine’s 17.2 metre Berkeley Class pilot boat, a smaller variant of the already successful 19.2 metre Berkeley Class vessels. In addition to being the first 17.2 metre Berkeley Class contracted, the all-aluminium vessel is differentiated by using the Volvo Penta Inboard Performance System (IPS). With a total installed power of just over 900kW (1200hp), the Svitzer pilot boat...

New pilot boat CORUÑA PILOTS 8, build by #SafehavenMarine in Cork, Ireland. The Interceptor 48 is typically powered by twin Volvo D13 500/550hp engines and twin Disc or ZF gearboxes providing the vessel with an operational speed of 24-26kts. The vessel is 15m LOA, with a 4.4m beam and 17,200kg Displacement.
Nueva lancha de Prácticos Coruña, la Prácticos Coruña 8, construída por los astilleros Safehaven Marine en Cork, Irlanda. El tipo de lancha es una Interceptor 48 propulsada por dos...

Aberdeen Pilot Boat “Sea Shepherd” following a vessel into port. Wind speed of 40kts gusting 50kts

Educational and descriptive video

The Car Carrier Golden Ray was lost on Sunday September 8, 2019 when transiting the Saint Simons Sound at the Port of Brunswick, Georgia. The rescue, investigation and salvage that followed were all incredibly complex.

Like many seafarers I have long been a keen follower of The Nautical Institute’s MARS programme, and along with many other members I listened to the recent webinar on that topic. One theme which was repeated more than once was that it is better to learn from someone else’s misfortune rather than have it happen to you. Having personally been involved in two near misses resulting from unsafe pilot transfer arrangements in a relatively short space of time, I asked how experiences and knowledge specifically about pilot ladder safety could best be promulgated to avoid repeating common accidents or near misses.

Article originally published in SWZ|Maritime September 2022

Through the years, the Dutch Pilots have developed a system of selection, initial education and continual professional training. What is the current state of affairs?