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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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San Diego Bay Pilots Association

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Video Pilotage

published on 26 July 2021

Pilot going onboard, using pilot ladder port side, 1,5 meters above the water.

Opinion Snakes or Ladders

by Ewan Rattray, UK - published on 12 March 2021

A MIXED METHODOLOGY REVIEW INTO THE BOARDING AND LANDING OF MARITIME PILOTS.

Video Another non-compliant trap door arrangement

published on 4 October 2021

Some pilots have already lost their lives because of this non-compliant construction. We don't want to see such an arrangement again. Here is a latest video from the Middle East.

Video PILOT 20 Crossing the Rambler Channel in HK

published on 11 August 2025

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Opinion Pilot Ladder - The Weakest Link in Marine Pilotage

by Capt. Santosha K. Nayak - published on 10 August 2020

Pilot transfer arrangement is a sensitive topic to be discussed among the pilot’s fraternity. Although ships are designed and operated with compliance to the SOLAS requirements in all respects including the pilot transfer arrangements, there has been numerous deficiencies observed related to pilot transfer arrangements. The small deficiencies from the part of ships cause life threatening accidents for pilots and sometimes to the ship staff themselves. There are many instances of defective ladder and complacency in proper rigging of ladders has been reported almost every day in different parts of the world. Many pilots lost their life, severely injured for life and face many minor to major accidents. The latest incident being the Capt. Timothy Murray of Sandy hooks Pilot.

Video MV Arvin 17.01.21 - Moment of breaking of the ship

published on 7 February 2021

On 17.01.2021, at 12:35 pm, the research conducted by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure based on the distress signal received from the Satellite Assisted Search and Rescue System (Cospas-Sarsat system), it was found that the Palau flagged Arvin ship was sunk, and the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Main Search and Rescue Coordination Center Search and rescue elements were immediately dispatched to the region. Due to adverse weather conditions, the ship anchored in the...

Video Pilots Take on Rough Seas

published on 24 March 2022

Unless you were paying attention on your last cruise, you might have missed the pilot boat bringing the pilot out to your cruise ship.

Article Pilot Boat Review "Colne Leader" by BairdMaritime.com

by Baird Maritime - published on 10 May 2023

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.

Article Information for Marine Pilots about novel coronavirus by Australian Government

by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 10 February 2020

An information sheet for marine pilots about novel coronavirus. Published by the Australian Government - Department of Health

Article NZMPA Mobile App for Android released

published on 18 August 2020

The New Zealand Maritime Pilots Association (NZMPA) mobile App has just been released for Android devices.

The App is primarily an information-sharing tool to help improve communications and enhance maritime safety.