Video

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


published on 27 May 2020 -  158 -

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 When a pilot boarding is aborted

published on 27 January 2022

Wind was blowing strong from the NE and the waves were becoming bigger and bigger by the time we reach a new client.
Crew didn't consider the rolling effect about to happen while changing heading in order to give lee when they prepared pilot ladder, so the requested 1.5m above the water was not that good.
I decided to abort and to give the vessel the chance to shorten it. In the next attempt they did it right and I was able to board safe

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Video A Container Ship Appears Out of Nowhere in Dense Fog | Pilot Transfer Operations

published on 15 June 2026

A routine station watch turns surreal as a massive container ship slowly emerges from dense fog. We board the pilot, complete the transfer, and watch the vessel disappear back into the mist.

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Video Deep Sea Pilotage - Boarding on EVER ACE

published on 1 July 2026

https://deepnorthseapilot.com
Deep Sea Pilotage boarding on EVER ACE World Largest Ship !
In Cherbourg on september 3rd 2021 for it maiden voyage to Rotterdam.
Deep North Sea Pilot - Superior pilot services for the Channel and North Sea waters.

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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...

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Opinion Heroes or Hostages?

by Ivana-Maria Carrioni-Burnett - published on 1 October 2020

“Definitions": ‘Hero’: person who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities OR person greatly admired for their exceptional qualities or achievements

‘Hostage’: person seized or held for the fulfilment of a condition OR person who is illegally held prisoner until certain demands are met by others

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Video Pilot on Board Documentary Movie

published on 23 February 2023

Pilot on Board - Documentary Movie ⚓️ The documentary Pilot on Board shows us the highly responsible work of Finnish pilots and pilot boat operators, through all seasons, in different circumstances, ships and ports. In spring we go onboard in Örregrund, Kotka, to guide the cargo ship M/S Arabian Breeze to port. In summer we see how the 290 metres long cruise ship M/S Emerald Princess is piloted from Harmaja to the West Harbour in Helsinki. The pilotage of a Dutch ship in Lake Saimaa was...

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Video Maritime Pilot - 8,000 Piloted moves - Episode 11

by Dr. Captain Ahmed Sati - published on 18 December 2024

Congratulation to Ahmed Sati for 8,000 moves!

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Article Shareable Survey "Boarding and Landing Arrangements for Pilots" by Ewan Rattray

by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 26 August 2020

This survey on pilot ladder safety was initiated by Ewan Rattray. It is supported and recommended by well-known heads of the #dangerousladders Facebook group like Kevin Vallance, Arie Palmers and others.

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Video HMM - Maiden voyage of HMM Algeciras #9-Hamburg

published on 18 July 2020

#MaidenVoyage #HMMalgeciras
The maiden voyage of HMM Algeciras #9-Hamburg: The largest containership in the world, HMM Algeciras, navigates 110km up to the Elbe River to Hamburg's HHLA CTB Terminal on 7 June 2020 - Welcome to Germany!

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