Video

Meet Captain Lyle Donovan, a San Diego Bay pilot with the San Diego Bay Pilots Association

published on 27 May 2020 - 158 -

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May is Maritime Month at the Port of San Diego and we are proud to highlight some of our hardworking men and women of the Working Waterfront. Meet Captain Lyle Donovan, a San Diego Bay pilot with the San Diego Bay Pilots Association. His work consists of guiding ships in and out of San Diego Bay in a safe and efficient manner. A typical day includes guiding a 650-foot car carrying vessel or a 950-foot cruise ship into San Diego Bay. This entails boarding the vessels by climbing up a ladder, often in very rough seas and usually when it’s still dark out. The Port of San Diego thanks Captain Donovan and his fellow pilots for their hard work. To read more about the importance of the maritime industry, visit portofsandiego.org/maritimemonth

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Video Pilot boarding Fremantle/Australia

published on 27 June 2022

How pilot embark the ship #marino #seaman

Video Metal Shark and Sea Machines Launch New Sharktech Autonomous Vessel

published on 11 December 2019

USA-based shipbuilder Metal Shark and Sea Machines, a Boston-based leading developer of autonomous marine technology, have partnered on the introduction of a new 29-foot autonomous vessel now being offered through Metal Shark’s “Sharktech” autonomous division. Full story here: http://bit.ly/seamachines

Article Combinations Ladders: "1,000 combinations around" (by Arie Palmers)

by Arie Palmers, Netherlands - published on 13 July 2020

Before you, you see my third article on pilot boarding arrangements. After my two previous articles
(‘1000 ways to secure a pilot ladder’ and ‘1000 ladders around’, I have received a lot of feedback and
also questions to get deeper into the matter of combinations and embarkation platforms.

Video How the Sabine Pilots are Redefining Maritime Pilot Transfer with Helicopters

published on 17 February 2026

In one of the busiest and most critical waterways in the United States, timing and safety are everything. Along the Sabine-Neches Waterway in Port Arthur, Texas, the Sabine Pilots are redefining maritime pilot transfer by taking to the air. This video follows the Sabine Pilots and HeliService USA as they use Leonardo AW169 helicopters to move pilots safely and efficiently between ships—reducing risk, improving responsiveness, and keeping America’s energy gateway moving. From offshore hoists...

Video Submarine pilot boarding

published on 6 July 2019

Pilot boarding submarine HNLMS Bruinvis at North East Spit pilot station.
Pilot Captain Chris Renault.

Video Nassau pilot boat

published on 17 March 2026

Video Pilot Boat

published on 19 May 2022

Video Galtex Pilot Boat transferring pilot

published on 16 June 2023

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.

Video Ketchikan Harbor Pilot (Canada) - on July 2026

published on 12 August 2026

Unedited video of Ketchikan harbor pilots being offloaded onto Ovation of the Seas in July 2026...filmed from the wing accessed via the Solarium.

Video So Long Solina! The Local Captain Takes His Leave November 2, 2021

published on 9 February 2022

A more unique angle regarding freighter departures; I was able to film the routine disembarking of one of our local ship captains and officers after piloting Solina out of the harbor. This is a required procedure, as per US Maritime Laws, all international freighters must be piloted in and out of a US harbor by a US Captain. Here we have out local pilot vessel Sea Bear running up alongside the Solina to allow the two officers to depart the freighter before she heads out across Lake Superior