The story of Britain's pilotage services.
The story of Britain's pilotage services.
Video Maritime Piloting in the 17th-Century
published on 25 June 2022
Video Look at Life - City of Sailors - Portsmouth - 1965, UK
published on 18 March 2021
Video British Sea Pilot's 1960: Vintage History Vault Films.
published on 27 July 2026
Step back in time to the height of Britain's maritime influence with this look at the unsung heroes of the shipping industry: the sea pilots. In the 1960s, as global trade patterns shifted and shipping technology began its rapid evolution, British sea pilots remained the vital, trusted guides navigating the world’s most complex waterways. From the treacherous currents of the River Mersey to the bustling ports of the coast, these men held the legal conduct of massive vessels in their hands,...
Video History: Trinity House Buoys (1966)
published on 18 May 2020
Harwich, Essex. Several shots of buoys at a warehouse on the quay. Various shots show the Trinity House Vessel 'Siren' setting out to sea to carry out maintenance on buoys; a naval flag showing the Union Jack and the Trinity House Jack is hoisted; officers are seen using sextants and plotting their course on a chart. Nice M/S of a sailor tying on a life jacket. Sailors drop anchor beside a buoy, hoist weather balloons and ring bells on the ship. The buoy is cleaned of mussels and limpets...
Video "Majesty of the Seas" berthing Portsmouth International Port. Tug view
published on 10 August 2020
Video by Andy Mabbett, UK
A lovely morning for the arrival of the Royal Caribbean International Majesty of the Seas into Portsmouth International Port. Apologies for my basic editing but the overlays in each corner provide an idea of what my tugs azimuth thrusters were doing along the way with the sliders showing engine and propeller power. The Damen Shipyards Group ASD 2411 'MARKSMAN' of SMS Towage is an awesome tug with 70t Bollard Pull. This ensures the customer's v/l is handled safely...
Opinion 1000 cruise ships around… Are their pilot transfer arrangements safe?
by Arie Palmers - published on 8 June 2022
Video The Maritime Professional during Covid19 - Meet Ivana-Maria Carrioni-Burnett
published on 6 May 2020
In this episode we have a chance to meet Ivana-Maria Carrioni-Burnett, a Marine Pilot from the UK who works on the River Thames. Ivana highlights the concerns and fear that can be felt by those working in the maritime industry during COVID19. On the vessel, the seafarers are in their own isolation, or 'families' and then the pilot and other port personnel come onboard and they may be asymptomatic. For the port personnel, they aren't sure if the crew might be infected. Then there are the...
Article Command or Control?
by Capt. Gürhan Aktürk - published on 27 October 2019
“Piloting the vessels was there since there was a sea transportation” This is one of the most popular and might be most proud phrase for pilots. During the maritime history, piloting the vessels evolved in many aspects, however main core is never changed; trustworthy colleague from neighbourhood will be close by for safe passage.