Female Pilot embarking in Paranagua, Brazil.

KITTIWAKE ( MMSI 232008570) is a Pilot and currently sailing under the flag of United Kingdom (UK) Here she is speeding down the River this morning.

Vessel name: Polaris ; Year built: 2012 ; Flag: Netherlands ; Homeport: Rotterdam Length: 81.2m X 13.3m ; GRT: 2501 ; Callsign: PBZN ; MMSI:245142000 ; IMO: 9496915 Type: Special Vessel / Pilot Ship A "Pilot Ship / Pilot Vessel" is a "special type" of ship in which it accommodates a certain and limited Marine Pilots (Sea, River, Harbor Pilots), it also carries small boats/crafts that are used to tender services to and from the Pilot ship. In a Pilot Vessel, the Pilots can take their time...

Editors note: A film of a pilot boat has just been published on YouTube with the title "How Dangerous being in a Pilot Boat..." on YouTube. I'm not sure if this really shows a dangerous maneuver, maybe the experts can comment on it here.
But in principle it is problematic to approach the ship in such a small Pilot Boat in the wake from astern and cross the waves there. I remember an accident from Finland in December 2017 where the boat capsized and people died. Is this situation shown here...

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

🚢 ALG PILOTS CALARENAS, Other Type 📡 MMSI: 225986414 🇪🇸 Flag: Spain 📅 Date: 29 August 2025 ⚓ Status: Went to Cernaval Shipyard to collect the pilot from LENE (IMO 1016575, Container Ship) after she was tugged in by VB ALGECIRAS, V.B. SIROCO, and VB SIMUN 🚢 Welcome to SHIPS at THE STRAIT OF GIBRALTAR — The World’s Maritime Crossroads, Captured Daily From mega tankers and RoRos to cargo ships, tugs, and military vessels, we film the pulse of the Strait — 24/7 — right from the shores of...

North River Boats (Pilot Boat)

The LNG carrier ‘Genesis River’ collided with a 297-foot-long tank barge being pushed ahead by the 69-foot-long towing vessel ‘Voyager’, spilling petrochemical cargo into the waterway and capsizing a barge.