Ships in Freeport of Riga

To monitor the vessel’s progress, the pilot had set up his portable pilotage unit (PPU). He had connected the rate-of-turn generator to the vessel’s pilot plug and had set a variable range marker on the radar with a radius of 0.5 nm.

Look at Life Vol 01 Transport Pilot Aboard 1963
The story of Britain's pilotage services.

There are some problems that never seem to go away and one is the perennial difficulties in providing a safe way of getting pilots on and off a ship.

#tugboatwilly #tugboat #ship #nyharbor #captain

A more unique angle regarding freighter departures; I was able to film the routine disembarking of one of our local ship captains and officers after piloting Solina out of the harbor. This is a required procedure, as per US Maritime Laws, all international freighters must be piloted in and out of a US harbor by a US Captain. Here we have out local pilot vessel Sea Bear running up alongside the Solina to allow the two officers to depart the freighter before she heads out across Lake Superior

Caught at Cuxhaven, Germany

Chief officer of bulk carrier İNCE EGE fell into water from pilot ladder while trying to read draft marks at Taman port, Russia, Black sea, understood early in the morning Feb 4, at nigh time.

The Federal New York and the M.S. Westcott Sliding through the Detroit River in May 2026, the Federal New York towered over the tiny but legendary M.S. Westcott, a perfect Great Lakes contrast of scale and tradition. Built in 2024 for Fednav, Canada’s largest dry-bulk shipping company, the Federal New York stretches nearly 656 feet long, carries roughly 34,700 deadweight tons, and was designed specifically for efficient St. Lawrence Seaway and Great Lakes service. Alongside her, the M.S....

From this "tender" the bring pilots to Big vessels with a small boat. You see this small boats on the deck. AIS Name LOODSBOOT 7 PILOT Type Pilot tender FleetMon Pilot tender Icon Flag Belgium Flag of Belgium IMO 8424927 MMSI 205110000 Callsign ORBG Year Built 1978 Length 51 m Width 9 m Draught 3.6 m / 1.3 m / 13.6 m Avg/Min/Max Speed 9.3 kn / 17.4 kn Avg/Max