This particular maneuver was unberthing a chemical tanker, in loaded condition, the "Maersk Borneo", which is a mid size tanker with a bow thruster and a fixed pitch prop. I used 2 tugs fast on the port side, backed her out of the basin and turned her to port. Captain and crew were very professional.
This particular maneuver was unberthing a chemical tanker, in loaded condition, the "Maersk Borneo", which is a mid size tanker with a bow thruster and a fixed pitch prop. I used 2 tugs fast on the port side, backed her out of the basin and turned her to port. Captain and crew were very professional.
Opinion Pilot transfer arrangements - Sharing knowledge matters – but problems go beyond non-compliance to SOLAS itself
by Kevin Vallance deep sea pilot and author - published on 23 September 2020
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 PTR Holland Group Joins RightShip’s Zero Harm Innovation Partners Program
published on 19 August 2025
Video Maritime pilot boarding The Cat Ferry as it approaches Bar Harbor
published on 21 June 2022
Opinion A Corrected Version on Positioning of Pivot Point
by Capt. Santosha K. Nayak - published on 18 November 2020
Understanding the fundamentals of the pivot point is highly required for understanding the alteration of the courses. Pivot point is an imaginary point on the vessel which turns on a circular path on the perimeter of vessel’s turning circle when the vessel makes a turn. The knowledge about the position of the pivot point in a manoeuvring situation provides the ship handler with the information on the geometry of motion of the ship.