Video

Riding with the Savannah Pilots


published on 25 October 2020 1116 -

Found on YouTube. Created by "FL92002".
Over the course of 4 days this August, I was afforded the opportunity and privilege of riding with the Savannah Bar Pilots for an article I was writing for a major maritime magazine. The pilots are given the responsibility of boarding a vessel in the Atlantic Ocean and safely navigating the vessel up the Tybee Road 9 (a name for the shipping lane that leads into the Savannah River), into the Savannah River, and into the Port of Savannah. The same is done in reverse when a ship is outbound for the Atlantic. In my time there, I got on the pilot boat Georgia a number of times and followed the pilots as they got on large ships, such as container ships, break bulk cargo ships, tankers, roll on/roll off ships, and more. In this compilation, we ride the pilot boat out at 37 knots to meet three different ships: 2 inbound container ships and an outbound tanker. In the first scenes, we're en-route to the first ship, which is the container ship Lena-S. Originally, she was the APL Indonesia, but she is now out as a chartered vessel. She was built in 2010 by Jiangsu Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Co. Ltd, China. Her maximum capacity is 4253 TEU, or twenty foot equivalent units. She weighs in at just over 50000 tons, has a length of 860 feet, and a breadth of 108 feet. As we nuzzle up to her port side, the captain of the pilot boat masterfully eases her alongside and matches the 10 knots that the Lena-S is making, so that the pilot and his apprentice can climb the Jacob's Ladder and the gangway to board the ship. After that, we jettison away and await our next inbound arrival. The next ship we see is the container ship NYK Deneb. NYK Deneb was built in 2007 at Hyundai Heavy Industries Ltd. Co, South Korea. Her maximum capacity is 4882 TEU. She weighs in at just under 66000 tons and she is 965 feet in length with a breadth of 108 feet. Once we drop another pilot off with her, we make a quick turn around and meet the outbound tanker ship Stolt Island. She was built in 2009 at Nikolaev Shipyard Okean in Nikolaev, Ukraine. She weighs in at 43593 tons, is 600 feet in length and 108 feet in breadth. As we pull up along her starboard side, we again match her speed so that the off-going pilot can safely climb down the Jacob's Ladder. The work that these pilots do is quite dangerous, as they have to board and disembark from moving vessels at all hours on any given day in all types of weather. Their work is extremely vital to the movement of the vessels, as well as the loading and offloading of their contents. A little bit about the pilot boat Georgia. She was built in 2013 by Kvichak Marine in Seattle. She is 64 feet in length, has a draft of three feet, and she is powered by two 12VM72 MTU engines, with a rated 1450 horsepower each, for a total of 2900 horsepower. She is propelled by a pair of Hamilton H521 water jets, and she can make 37 knots. She is set up to carry two crew members, usually two pilot captains, and seven pilots. There is a day galley, a head, and a bunk room for four pilots. Many thanks go to the Savannah Pilots Association for allowing me onto their boat, as well as the ability to ride on multiple shifts, interview the crew members, as well as helping to set up boarding of other vessels. In the next video, we'll be aboard a vessel headed outbound for the ocean. Stay tuned. If you have any questions about the video, feel free to message me. Comments are welcome.
Savannah, USA

Join the conversation...

Login or register to write comments and join the discussion!
RC
Ricardo Caballero Vega Panama Canal Pilots Association, Panama
on 15 July 2021, 22:50 UTC

I am really glad that you have got a glimpse at what marine pilots do, especially at Savannah. Some of the ships that call at Savannah also transit through the Panama Canal, like the NYK DENEB. Regarding this ship, I am almost certain that her beam is not 108 feet but 106 feet, since the latter is the maximus allowable beam at the Panama Canal old locks is precisely 106 feet, and I have piloted her a few times.

You did an outstanding work making the video, and I am sure it will serve the purpose of portraying a day in a pilots life.

Thanks for sharing, and thanks to the Savannah Pilots for allowing the video be made.

Captain R. Caballero
[show more]
0

Read more...

Video Pilot Transfer - New Zealand (Auckland) & Australia (Melbourne/Fremantle)

published on 21 October 2021

Spotted some Pilot Boats in the Port of Auckland, New Zealand and Melbourne & Fremantle Australia (Port codes: Auckland:NZ AKL ; Melbourne:AU MEL ; Fremantle:AU FRE).

0

Video Pilot Boat "Petrel" (River Mersey)

published on 16 December 2021

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

0

Video Pilot Leaving Ship Vigo

published on 31 March 2023

0

Article Request from the American Pilots’ Association to State Pilotage Authorities Regarding Pilot Safety

by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 20 February 2020

The American Pilots’ Association has sent a letter to state pilotage authorities across the United States on behalf of approximately 1,200 American ship pilots to improve safety pilot safety following the death of a New York pilot in December.

0

Video Transport maritime : le rôle crucial des pilotes du St-Laurent

published on 17 October 2022

Toutes les 40 minutes, un pilote du Saint-Laurent embarque à bord d'un navire de commerce qui transite entre Montréal et Québec. 230 pilotes sont chargés de guider les embarcations dans la voie maritime : une des plus dangereuses au monde. Un métier essentiel à l'économie du Québec, qui est payant, mais qui vient avec son lot de contraintes et de stress. Catherine François nous amène à bord d'un porte-conteneur qui sillonne le fleuve. Le reportage de Catherine François au #TJ18H -- Rendez-...

1

Video Berthing a Car Carrier in Santa Marta, Colombia

published on 12 April 2021

Berthing a 180 meter Ro-ro type vessel. With the assistance of 2 ASD tugs of 60TBP each. The ship has a 1000KW bow thruster, which makes the manuever a bit easier.

0

Video As NorthQueensland (Australia) As

published on 11 July 2024

Up here in the north, we do things a little differently ...

0

Video Nakilat MEGI LNG carrier transits Panama Canal

published on 2 January 2021

Nakilat’s newbuild MEGI LNG carrier Global Energy loaded a full cargo of LNG and transited the Panama Canal for the first time in late-2020. Chartered by Cheniere Marketing International, the 173,400cbm vessel is commercially and technically managed by Nakilat. Built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME), 'Global Energy' is the first of four LNG carrier newbuilds to be delivered to Global Shipping Co. Ltd., a joint venture of Nakilat and Maran Ventures Inc. (Maran Ventures).

0

Video Bulk Carrier Ship "SBI ZEUS" /Pilot Vessel "CATAMARÁN ANTARES" #ZonaComún #RioDeLaPlata / "VIVALDI"

published on 14 August 2020

Bulk Carrier Ship "SBI ZEUS" / On board Pilot Vessel "CATAMARÁN ANTARES" #ZonaComún #ZonaComúnAnchorageArea #RioDeLaPlata #Argentine #Summer #Vivaldi #TheFourSeasons #MariSamuelsen Buque de Transporte a Granel "SBI ZEUS" / A bordo de la Lancha de Prácticos "CATAMARÁN ANTARES" - Zona Común - Fodeadero Zona Común, Río de La Plata #Argentina This video was filmed on board Pilot Vessel "CATAMARÁN ANTARES" and shows the moments when the Pilot Boat proceeded to the #BoardingStation #ZonaComún...

0

Video Wärtsilä Pilot Pro real life use case

published on 3 February 2021

See the real footage filmed by one of our users. Please like and share your opinion in the comments.
Wärtsilä Pilot Pro is a navigation app designed to assist pilots and navigation officers in their daily routine. Make pilotage easier, optimise time and operating budgets with Wärtsilä Pilot Pro. Maintain mobility and freedom on the bridge, efficient and safe sea pilotage in adverse weather conditions.
Explore more and request a demo here https://pages.wartsila.digital/pilot-pro-2021

0