Pilot transfer to Oosterdam

If you ever wanted to see what a pilot transfer to a cruise ship, in this case HAL's Oosterdam, looks like, here is a pretty good video on YouTube. It shows the pilot boat Endeavour from Picton, on New Zealand's South Island catching up to Oosterdam in Queen Charlotte Sound. Oosterdam already has her port side pilot break (doors) open and her Jacob's (pilot) ladder deployed outboard two meters above the waterline, rigged and ready. The two ropes on either side are known as "man ropes"; some pilots request/require and use them, others do not. These two pilots did not use them.

The two lifesaving attendants, more commonly known at HAL as 'boatmen', are positioned on either side of the ladder, wearing PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) in the form of a live vest and a safety harness which attaches them through a lanyard and "D-ring" to the interior of the ship's Marshaling Area for safety reasons. The two white-shirted officers in the background, also wearing life vests, are either deck officers and/or one deck officer and one SECO, who will escort the pilot, in this case two pilots, to the bridge. The white painted "paddle" below the pilot break is the indicator for the port side stabilizer located below the water line

Great video.... thanks for sharing!

As an early bird I've often watched the pilot transfer from the Promenade deck but never from the pilot boat perspective. I was surprised to see that the pilot was wearing a harness as he walked around the pilot boat, disconnecting JUST before grabbing the ladder.

Roy

Terrific video, thanks.

After video finished, another one started, which shows a pilot boarding Disney Fantasy. Much scarier, and the thing I noticed in comparison was the lack of lifejackets by the Disney crew. So full marks to HAL.

Thanks for sharing. I found this perspective very interesting.

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As an early bird I've often watched the pilot transfer from the Promenade deck but never from the pilot boat perspective. I was surprised to see that the pilot was wearing a harness as he walked around the pilot boat, disconnecting JUST before grabbing the ladder.

 

Roy

Yeah, I've never seen that either but, you know, these guys are being safe. No one wants to wind up in the water :( You'll really see everything from super nice and powerful pilot boats like 'Pacific Scout' in Victoria, BC and 'Juan de Fuca' in Port Angeles, WA, to regular tug boats in places like Jeju Island, South Korea, to converted pleasure craft with plastic patio chairs in Huatulco, Mexico, to the mayor's personal boat in Katakolon, Greece

Copper: Really great video! Thanks for posting it.

How fast do you think the Oosterdam was sailing? Sometimes as we watch from the deck it seems quite fast.

Copper: Really great video! Thanks for posting it.

 

How fast do you think the Oosterdam was sailing? Sometimes as we watch from the deck it seems quite fast.

They all slow way down for the transfer and also attempt to get a nice lee, if possible; would have to ask one of the deck officers as to the actual speed - or ask Capt. Albert Schoonderbeek on his blog; he'll know ;)

Great video, thanks!

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They all slow way down for the transfer and also attempt to get a nice lee, if possible; would have to ask one of the deck officers as to the actual speed - or ask Capt. Albert Schoonderbeek on his blog; he'll know ;)

Thanks.

We see quite a variety of speeds. In Asia where the "pilot boat" can be pretty much anything from a tug to a glorified fish boat, we have noticed the ship will slow down to an almost floating along speed. All of it is such fun to watch, one of the highlights of arrivals and departures!

The speed really depends on the port (channel, traffic, etc.), the weather, and the pilot boat itself. I've seen pilot transfers from 6 knots to 12 knots. Many pilot boats utilize a "bridge" walkway over the cabin of the pilot boat that runs from side to side. This allows the pilot more room to back away when things don't look right, as opposed to being on the narrow deck between the ship's side and the boat's pilothouse.

While the Disney crew were not wearing lifejackets, since they had fall arrest gear on that would not let them reach the water, it is an acceptable practice. The thing I noticed is that HAL's crew were using normal lifejackets (though the officer's appeared to have inflatables). These lifejackets are great for keeping you afloat when unconscious in the water, but working in them is the pits. "Work vests" will provide as much flotation (though won't turn an unconscious person face up) as a lifejacket, but are designed differently to allow more freedom of movement.

The speed really depends on the port (channel, traffic, etc.), the weather, and the pilot boat itself. I've seen pilot transfers from 6 knots to 12 knots. Many pilot boats utilize a "bridge" walkway over the cabin of the pilot boat that runs from side to side. This allows the pilot more room to back away when things don't look right, as opposed to being on the narrow deck between the ship's side and the boat's pilothouse.

 

While the Disney crew were not wearing lifejackets, since they had fall arrest gear on that would not let them reach the water, it is an acceptable practice. The thing I noticed is that HAL's crew were using normal lifejackets (though the officer's appeared to have inflatables). These lifejackets are great for keeping you afloat when unconscious in the water, but working in them is the pits. "Work vests" will provide as much flotation (though won't turn an unconscious person face up) as a lifejacket, but are designed differently to allow more freedom of movement.

Good obs as usual, Cheng! ;) The two officers are wearing Mustang Survival work vests with HIT (Hydrostatic Inflator Technology) in them which they, no doubt, picked up on the bridge before coming down to A-deck. The two boatmen are wearing semi-inflatable vests (forgot the manufacturer) with crotch straps which are stored, right there at the pilot breaks, not the most comfortable to wear as, I'm sure you know. When the sailors and boatmen (a different rank within HAL) work outside and for longer time periods compared to the pilot pickup and drop-offs, they generally wear the Mustangs

Reminded me of the days when I was the engineer of the crew on a CG "44." No seats for us but we would be strapped in by the coxswain to prevent going over the side. Thanks for posting, John!

I appreciate the video! Thanks! My best view of this was from a starboard aft window in the Crow's Nest on a Vista Class ship as we arrived at the port. Naturally, my somewhat cranky 35 mm decided not to work at the moments needed and I lost the potential images! (May have been too early in the morning for the poor dear.)

I admire the Pilots. Their jobs are important and are ones that I would never have been able to do.

Reminded me of the days when I was the engineer of the crew on a CG "44." No seats for us but we would be strapped in by the coxswain to prevent going over the side. Thanks for posting, John!

Thanks for your service, Sir! I once again was privy, during my last contract on Amsterdam, to a USCG air crew from CGAS Port Angeles, WA putting their lives on the line in a Jayhawk helo in order to take off a guest in need of immediate medical care. This occurred in Canadian waters off Vancouver Island in June. The equally brave Canucks from 442 SAR Sqn at Canadian Forces Base Comox, BC were on a run elsewhere, otherwise they would have, no doubt, responded in one of their Cormorant helos

Bravo Zulu Coast Guard!

Great video, thanks for the link.

Very cool

Iv watched transfers but not from the pilot boats view.

Thanks for the video!

Thanks Copper and Cheng!

Thanks for posting the video. That HAL transfer looked easy compared to the Disney one. Those guys earn their pay.

Allan

Thanks for sharing.

Thanks, Copper. I know the career I'm glad I never went into. :D

Awesome video.

Thanks,

Dan

Fascinating to see. Thanks.

John

I enjoyed this. Thanks for the link.