shippingposition
  • Home
  • News
  • Editorial
    • Vox Pop
  • Maritime safety
  • Oil and Gas
  • Personality
  • Health
No Result
View All Result
shippingposition

Home » Marine Pilots And Their Roles

Marine Pilots And Their Roles

by Joshua
June 6, 2022
in Shiptalk

There are currently around 99,800 ships of 100 gross tons and above, equivalent to 2,134,639,907 DWT (Dead Weight Tonnage) circumnavigating the globe carrying cargoes of every conceivable size, type, and capacity facilitating global trade of around $28.5 trillion.. Not just cargoes, but there are also ships carrying passengers, laying underwater cables, carrying out research, and many such activities.

MARINE PILOT

As per Lloyds List, there are more than 2900 ports globally and one thing that all these ships entering and departing the ports of the world have in common is that each of them has a “Marine Pilot” or “Pilot”..

What is the need for a marine pilot?

The pilot has the onerous task of navigating the ship into the local port as they have overall expertise on specific local conditions existing in the port area. The local pilots are aware of channel depths, any dredging operations done, navigational hazards like underwater cables, and other obstacles. In general, they provide local knowledge and experience to the Captain of the ship to ensure that navigational safety and the environment are not compromised.

However, very little is known or shared about these professionals without whom, the ships that we rely on for our consumer or industrial goods may not make it safely in and out of ports..

Ships move in and out of port at all odd hours and therefore pilots around the world work irregular and different timelines which messes with their circadian rhythm, akin to someone feeling jet lag..

TOC Europe 2022 – Shipping and Freight Resource

Pilots also have to be reasonably fit as their work involves many physical tasks such as boarding moving ships.. A small high-powered launch commonly known as Pilot Launch will transport the Pilot from the Port Control Tower or Pilot Station to the ship which could be several nautical miles away.. The pilot then has to be able to climb a high ladder (usually a rope ladder) onto the moving ship to access the deck which is several meters high depending on the size of the ship..

As an example, the MSC Oscar one of the largest container ships in the world is 395.4m, long, 59m wide, and 73m high.

Some ports around the world use helicopters instead of pilot launches and the pilot is lowered onto the moving ship from the helicopter using a harness and safety equipment.

Read Also:  QUESTION OF THE WEEK: What is the difference between a Ship Captain and Master Mariner?

Before boarding the particular ship, the pilot should have his/her plan for the course of the ship ready on hand.. The pilot must be capable of planning the course of the ship taking into account various weather factors such as wind, waves, tides, and physical factors such as the size of the ship, operational capabilities, ship equipment, presence of bow thrusters, etc and ascertain how many tugs (if any) would be required for the safe maneuvering of the ships..

It is notable that these pilots take a substantial amount of risk due to the fact that they have to embark or disembark from a pilot launch onto moving ships or be dropped off or picked up by a helicopter from a moving ship..

Here are some examples of what they go through.

Marine pilots don’t only operate within the ports around the world, they also work across the various canals around the world like the Panama Canal, Suez Canal, St.Lawrence Waterway, etc.. Navigating ships through these canals involves a lot of special skills and a lot of local knowledge.

*By Hariesh Manaadiar

shippingposition

Kindly like us on Facebook


Tags: Marine Pilots

Related Posts

SHIPTALK: Some Nautical Slangs in Common Usage   (4)

SHIPTALK: Some Nautical Slangs in Common Usage   (4)

May 19, 2025
Evergreen Declares Force Majeure On Israeli-Bound Shipment

SHIPTALK: The Role of General Average in the Maritime Industry

March 3, 2025
SHIPTALK: Responsibilities of Deck Officer When Ship is At Anchorage

SHIPTALK: Responsibilities of Deck Officer When Ship is At Anchorage

October 28, 2024
SHIPTALK: The Speed of a Ship at Sea

SHIPTALK: The Speed of a Ship at Sea

March 11, 2024

Latest News

Dantsoho’s Giant Strides at NPA: Port Reforms, Trade Growth, Maritime Diplomacy Define New Era

Dantsoho Front Lines Human Capital Development As NPA Promotes 1,500 Employees

June 19, 2025

Navy Arrests 3 Suspected Oil Thieves In Delta

Workers’ Welfare: Maritime union issues 21-day ultimatum to Melsmore

Customs Intercept Guns, 1,433 Live Cartridges In Ogun

Maritime Police, Clearing Agents Task Force Forge Alliance to Tackle Port Corruption, Economic Sabotage

Vessels Expected At Lagos Ports As At 18th June, 2025

Adeyanju Commends MWUN Over Election of New Executives of Shipping Branch

IPMAN Urges Reversal Of Truck Parking Fee

NARTO, Maritime Workers Oppose e-Call Up levy

Customs Refutes Extortion Allegation At Lagos Airport

Oyetola Seeks Island Nations’ Backing for Nigeria’s IMO Council Bid

Centre for Marine Surveyors Leads Initiative to Enhance Industry Standards, Regulations

kindly like our Facebook page

Health

Why Prostate Disorder Cases Are Increasing Among Nigerian Men – Experts
Health

Why Prostate Disorder Cases Are Increasing Among Nigerian Men – Experts

June 1, 2025

Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria, Lagos State chapter, has raised the alarm over the increasing number of men...

20m Nigerians Live With Mental Health Issues, Says WHO

20m Nigerians Live With Mental Health Issues, Says WHO

June 1, 2025
Health Facts You Didn’t Know

How Your Habit Affects Fertility

May 19, 2025
Fruits For Raining Season

Fruits For Raining Season

May 19, 2025
See Mental Illness Like Other Treatable Diseases – Says Suicide Survivor

Health Facts You Didn’t Know

May 19, 2025
Alligator Pepper: Benefits, FAQ, Side Effects, & Warning

Alligator Pepper: Benefits, FAQ, Side Effects, & Warning

April 28, 2025
Water And Health: The Relationship That Helps Life

Water And Health: The Relationship That Helps Life

April 28, 2025
Some Truths and Myths About Agbo Herbal Concoction

Some Truths and Myths About Agbo Herbal Concoction

April 21, 2025
The Malaise Of Misuse of Antibiotics

The Malaise Of Misuse of Antibiotics

April 14, 2025
Urologist Debunks Breast-Cancer Prevention Myth

Urologist Debunks Breast-Cancer Prevention Myth

April 14, 2025

© 2021 Shippingposition

Navigate Site

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Terms

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Coast To Coast
  • Oil and Gas
  • Maritime Education
  • The Terminals
  • Maritime safety

© 2021 Shippingposition