Pilot Vessel Tribulation

Cairns based Pilot Vessel underway outbound 19/9/21

The Association of Maryland Pilots took delivery of its fourth Chesapeake class launch from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation.

Since the Chesapeake class pilot boat was introduced by the Somerset, Mass., shipyard in 2003, 22 have been delivered to 12 pilot associations throughout the United States.

Sanmar Shipyards is celebrating completing a record number of vessels within one calendar month, with six tugs and two pilot boats gaining their class certificates during January 2022.

Sanmar Shipyards has signed six vessel contracts together totalling US$33.46 million with the Port Qasim Authority (PQA) in Pakistan for four high-performance state-of-the-art tugboats and two pilot boats. The tugs are scheduled to be delivered in 12 months and the pilot boats in 10.

If you have been looking for a Pilot Boat to use in your simulations, take a look here.

Fewer vessels in voyage mean less pilotage and this means less income for many Pilots. Not every Pilot is an employee and many pilots are self-employed and organised in a brotherhood per example. They are earning only money if they are piloting a vessel. No vessel – no money.

Pilot disembarkation from ship (kakinada)
Editors note:
The shown protections are very massive in our opinion.
What does our community think about?

The world watched as the grounding of the Ever Given in the Suez Canal played out. In a 2-part Quadcast Shipping Special, the "Quadcast" reviews the consequences and legal implications of a major maritime incident of this type.

Crude Oil Tanker British Robin passing St Anns Head on a rather windy day in Pembrokeshire.