History: Pilot Ahoy! (1940). A pathetone special

Let us start a journey back in time. Back to the black and white films of history. The times have changed, but it is good to know what kind of things have changed and where are the roots of pilotage.

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

The Maryland Pilots have guided ships to and from Baltimore since the 1700's. They have been chartered as an organization since 1852. This is an edited except from films about the Pilots shot between 1950-1965 for the Port that Built a City and State. The original films are in the archives of the Baltimore Museum of Industry.

On September 6th, 2023 the ONE INTEGRITY made her maiden call to rotterdam. With a length of 400m, 61,5 meters beam and a drift of 16,5 meters, she is one of the largest containerschips afloat today. Assisted by KRVE boatmen class of 2023 and three Boluda tugs, as well as an excellent ship’s crew, the inbound voyage was a real pleasure.

Now that I am a pilot, I know that I will be rated at the debriefing meeting regarding my work, as soon as I disembark. The bridge team and the captain will adjust their safety envelope for the next manoeuvre, according to my performance.

It’s my first voyage taking over solo watch as a navigating officer – from bridge commands to monitoring traffic and weather, every second counts. Once we arrive in Ningbo, it’s straight into cargo operations, intense mooring work, and pilotage.

La Nouvelle-Calédonie, notamment la Grande Terre, a la particularité d'être complètement entourée par un lagon, seules quelques passes rendent son accès possible aux navires venant de l'étranger. La navigation maritime y est délicate car une bonne connaissance de la topologie des fonds sous-marins est indispensable. Tous les bateaux de commerces de plus de 60 m voulant accoster en Nouvelle-Calédonie doivent impérativement faire appel aux services des pilotes maritimes de Nouvelle-Calédonie,...

Cadets get a wide variety of experiences at Great Lakes Maritime Academy. Glad this was captured to show the viewer what it is like boarding a vessel from a pilot boat.

The accidentology survey conducted in France between 2001 and 2021 found that pilots face significant risks during transfer phases while embarking or disembarking from ships that they are required to serve. To ensure their safety and improve transfers, pilots develop specific procedures and safety protocols and equip themselves with the necessary gear. These safety measures are presented in the following film that is intended for both novice and experienced pilot boat drivers and pilots,...