Personal Locator Beacons (PLB) and other individual MOB devices have been available for some years now and have evolved to incorporate a variety of different alerting methods and combinations. However, usage of these additional enhancements within UK Pilotage is still in its infancy.

SeaSafe - Marine pilot falling off a ships ladder with his integrated life jacket coat

"Rope Ladders" by PTR Holland

On April 20, 2026, the Columbia River Bar Pilots conducted a MOB drill with the U.S. Coast Guard Station Astoria.

Most pilot embarkations and disembarkations around the world, are still carried out using a traditional pilot ladder, consisting of wooden steps supported and secured by side ropes.

Pilot boat Explorer approaches 2GO Maligaya as the harbor pilot then boards the vessel during a Monday morning arrival to Cebu from Manila
See my photos at https://www.flickr.com/photos/dareleven/

Pilots boarding the M/V Hodaka Galaxy with the San Francisco Bar Pilots.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maritime_pilot

Issues like the Covid 19 crisis and the moves towards increased autonomy appear to be driving a renewed interest in Shore Based Pilotage (SBP), nowadays often called Remote Pilotage.

Лоцманский катер, выход из Аделаиды, Австралия