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Allen Garfinkle — The Making of a Bay Pilot | 8/7/2019

published on 4 August 2020 - 155 -

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Found on YouTube. Created by "St. Francis Yacht Club".

The Making of a Bay Pilot

Allen Garfinkle, Executive Director, Board of Pilot Commissioners, San Francisco, San Pablo and Suisun Bays

Professional mariner Captain Allen Garfinkle, will highlight the role of maritime pilots in waterborne commerce on San Francisco Bay, including how one becomes a maritime pilot, dangers of the job and common myths about piloting on the Bay. Captain Garfinkle is the Executive Director of the state level authority that trains, licenses and regulates those pilots. Prior to his role at the Pilot Commission, Captain Garfinkle was a deep-sea mariner for 30 years, including 22 years at Matson Navigation Company, where he was master on nine of their ships. Allen holds a Bachelor’s degree from California Maritime Academy and a J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law.

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Opinion The Secret Life of Pilots

by Allen Garfinkle - published on 8 March 2022

The article was written by Allen Garfinkle, Executive Director – Board of Pilot Commissioners for the Bays of San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun

Video Safety video shows why you should fit lifejacket crotch straps!

published on 6 March 2020

No giggling, we’re serious about crotch straps at the RNLI. Why? Because crotch straps make your lifejacket perform better and keep you safer for longer. Our top tips for fitting your lifejacket crotch straps: 1. Always fit the crotch straps securely. 2. If you end up in the water, tighten the straps to take up any slack. Remember, correctly adjusted crotch straps will help keep your head above water. Get more water safety advice at: http://bit.ly/RNLIcheckBA

Video The Insane Amount of Power Tugboats Pack to Move Giant Ships

published on 6 October 2021

Welcome back to the Fluctus Channel for a feature on the important role of tugboats in navigating the bigger vessels in harbors and canal, as well as the open seas.

Video Tales from a Great Lakes Pilot

published on 9 February 2026

Great Lakes Pilot Eric Treece joined us in the Virtual Visitor Center for an interview about his career as a fleet captain and his experiences now as a pilot working aboard a variety of ships. In the course of the conversation, he shares some spectacular photos he has taken over the years. TECHNICAL NOTE: there are a few audio glitches we could not correct but it only impacts a few spots.

Video Belfast Pilot boarding at sea

published on 5 May 2023

Article A Collision that Should Not Have Happened

by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 10 April 2025

Based on MAIB Safety Digest 1/2025, Case 12, published April 2025 by the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB).

Video Offshore Pilot Transfer

published on 22 April 2021

Raw footage of a an offshore Pilot transfer.
More pictures and an occasional video can be found at
https://instagram.com/sea_weathered?igshid=3qbu808ioyqf

Opinion The IMPA Pilot Ladder Poster: Suggestions for Improvements

by Arie Palmers - published on 31 December 2020

In this article I would like to share my thoughts on this pilot ladder poster. Is it as good as we think or is there room for improvement? By taking you through this poster step by step I hope to explain what needs to be changed to make it similar to IMO an SOLAS regulations.

Article Work profile of maritime pilots in Germany

published on 27 December 2021

Long and irregular shifts, unforeseeable operations and high responsibility are still prominent in the job of a pilot and pose high psycho-physical demands.