From Dusk to Dawn - SOHAR Port

Container ship @ Port of Sohar

The debate is whether highly skilled pilots could have successfully overcome the recent Boeing 737 MAX computer deficiencies. Will this question eventually be relevant to harbor pilot skills?

Text and photos by Tonci Regjo
Pilot for the Split Harbour

Coronavirus may be hampering global trade but it hasn't broken the supply chain at the Port of Oakland. The latest evidence: the largest ship ever to call in Oakland arrives this week. The container vessel MSC Anna is scheduled to berth at the Port April 16.

The ship will tie up at Oakland International Container Terminal on the Oakland Estuary. The Port said that the 1,312-foot-long vessel is on special assignment from Geneva-based shipping line MSC. It’s collecting a backlog of empty containers in Southern California before arriving in Oakland. It’s scheduled to spend 24 hours here discharging import containers and loading exports.

This what a normal work day looks like for a port pilot.
A 24 hour shift shown in 11 minutes.
Recorded in Santa Marta, Colombia.

Für Lotsen ist es der gefährlichste Moment in ihrem Berufsalltag: bei orkanartigen Böen von einem Frachtschiff eine Strickleiter herunterklettern und auf ein kleines Lotsenboot übersetzen. Mitte Januar 2023 ist ein Lotse bei Borkum ins Meer gefallen und kam mit Unterkühlungen ins Krankenhaus. Erst wenige Tage zuvor verstarb ein englischer Kollege bei diesem Manöver. Hafenlotse Gerhard Janßen und Seelotse Dominik Thieben machen sich für ihren Einsatz bereit. Bei Windstärke acht geht es mit...

Time for shift change. Captain Henry transferring from Pilot boat Texas City to Pilot boat Texas. Turn the sound up towards the end and hear those twin V12 Cummins sing.

Conapra's Technical Director, the pilot Porthos Lima, presented during the 53rd EMPA GENERAL MEETING the application developed for smartphones, inspired by the 2017 IMPA SECURITY CAMPAIGN. This tool allows pilots to report deficiencies in the Pilot Packing Arrangements and ship equipment, and these reports are instantly available to all Brazilian pilots. In the presentation Mr. Lima, representative of the Brazilian Maritime Pilots Association, showed how the App works and presented its...

A look into the future of the ship's bridge with new technologies.

Great image video of the Italian pilots (Federazione Italiana Piloti dei Porti).