Pilot Boarding in Valetta (Malta)

Malta Maritime Pilots

Harbour pilots perform tricky operations boarding big cruise ships from fast pilot boats. Auckland and Malta.

After 30+ years of service, the vessel needed to be re-powered. A $1.7 million re-powering project was initiated and completed during 2004.

What a great pleasure to meet these guys at the harbour - they could not have been more helpful and forthright about their work. At first glance, the glide of these orange powerboats up and down Belfast Lough seems an almost effortless task, but close up this is a very skilled trade and constant management of risk 24/7 in high and low seas, jumping from ship to boat to land taking safe control of the great volume of steel vessel coming in and out of this busy port. Though a hub of...

River Mersey Pilot Boat going slowly inbound on the river before turning and heading northbound again.

A few shots from the day, with Elisabeth-S and H&S Fairness plus the pilot boat. I put music to it as it was such a windy day.

Departing a 159,000 tonne 274 metre long tanker at the Humber Pilot station

The Brightlingsea Harbour Commission of Essex, UK, recently took delivery of a new pilot boat built by Seaward Boat Development Company based on the Isle of Wight.