No Pilot Boat!

[SusieCruisie]

In simplest terms the pilot has expert specific knowledge of local waters, currents, tides, winds, depths etc.

 

He's taken out by pilot boat to the ship (sometimes direct from another ship he's just guided out of the port, sometimes several pilots are dropped off by the same pilot boat to different incoming ships - cuts down on the taxi fares ;)). Have you not seen him climb from boat to ship? He goes to the bridge & effectively directs the captain on course & speed etc, through to tying up at the quayside.

Same thing in reverse for leaving port.

 

Strictly-speaking, the captain is still in charge, the captain is still responsible, the captain can over-rule the pilot (I think the only exception is the Panama canal) but in essence it's a team effort between the guy who knows his waters & the guy who knows his ship.

 

Sometimes it doesn't involve a port - just difficult waters such as the Dardanelles Strait, between the Mediterranean Sea & the Sea of Marmaris (for Istanbul), or the Strait of Messina, between Italy & Sicily.

 

Sometimes pilots are ferried by helicopter rather than boat, though I've not witnessed that.

 

Usually local regulations determine whether a pilot is required, depending on the ship. Nearly always cruise ships are required to take on a pilot, but often very large local ferries are permitted to operate without a pilot because one or more of the senior crew is a qualified pilot for that ferry & that port.

 

Next time you see a pilot boat approaching the ship, get to a vantage point looking over the ship's rail to watch the pilot transfer.

If you lean too far, the pilot boat may even fish you out of the water :D

 

JB :)

Doh. Apologies for the gender-specifics ;)

Wow! You can bet I will surely be paying attention this time! Not Too much attention! haha i dont want to be that close to the pilot! Thanks for the info! Can't wait for July !

[navybankerteacher]

If you are on deck, you can generally predict the point at which the pilot will board or depart the ship. The rules ordinarily require a pilot while the ship is in the channel, the end of which is marked by the sea buoy, usually numbered one, past which is "open water" , where the movement of the ship is at the discretion of the captain, and not confined to the channel. Also, as long as the pilot is on board, the ship will fly "Hotel" - the letter "H" signal flag: half red, half white - vertical.

[WAPilot]

 

Also, as long as the pilot is on board, the ship will fly "Hotel" - the letter "H" signal flag: half red, half white - vertical.

 

This is absolutely correct.

 

But interestingly, there is what could be described as an 'anomaly' in the 'Regs' for pilotage at night.

 

Under the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 there is no 'Reg' for a night signal to indicate there is a pilot on board the ship.

 

However, there is a 'Reg' requiring a night signal for pilot boats - an all round white light above an all round red light.

 

Notwithstanding, some ports have enacted 'local' regulations requiring a ship with a pilot on board to display the same white over red lights a pilot boat does whilst engaged in pilot transfer duties.

 

So, depending which port you are in at night, you may or may not see the white over red signal lights on your or other ships when pilots are on board.

 

Of course, you may see the pilot flag at night too because 'someone' has been slack & forgotten to have the flags taken down at Sunset!

[Aquahound]

However, there is a 'Reg' requiring a night signal for pilot boats - an all round white light above an all round red light.

 

White Over Red, Pilot Ahead! It's those sort of rhymes that got me through my NavRules test. ;)

[TheOldBear]

Not really an anomaly - CollRegs apply in international waters - where the Pilot boat would be waiting.

 

Typically a vessel's master would want to know where to pick up a Pilot when entering a port [the Pilot would know where he wanted to go when leaving the port - might be a Pilot boat, might be an inbound vessel].

[WAPilot]

Not really an anomaly - CollRegs apply in international waters - where the Pilot boat would be waiting.

 

Typically a vessel's master would want to know where to pick up a Pilot when entering a port [the Pilot would know where he wanted to go when leaving the port - might be a Pilot boat, might be an inbound vessel].

 

Sorry to be a pain, but the anomaly I was alluding to was the requirement for a ship to have a signal flag by day but nothing by night.

 

Ship's Masters know where to pick up & drop off pilots by consulting the charts which have clearly marked Pilot Boarding Grounds.

 

Also, harbour/port pilot boats wait in national waters, either near or inside the port limits of each port.

 

Regarding the Collision Regs: they apply in all waters International or National unless they are varied by Local Regs & those should follow the International ones as closely as possible.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Unfortunately, the image in the Wikipedia link is not a particularly good example of how most pilots dress & board ships worldwide.

 

In this instant, the pilot has a somewhat 'casual' & 'relaxed' attitude towards personal protection equipment, as I doubt if he is wearing a life jacket under his bluejacket (which would be oxymoronic anyway).

Also, it would appear he is only wearing 'boatshoes' without socks - whereas most pilots wear safety boots/shoes - with socks!

 

Regarding lifejackets, many pilotage services now have foul weather jackets incorporating an auto inflatable life vest built into the jacket.

Two of the best known brands are 'Sea Safe' & 'Stormy Seas.'

 

A Youtube video link is attached if any one is interested.

 

 

 

Lightweight 'stand alone' life jackets are still used especially in warmer climates as the built in jackets can get quite hot. An example is shown under

 

 

 

Great picture.

Thank you for sharing it.

[Krazy Kruizers]

This is absolutely correct.

 

But interestingly, there is what could be described as an 'anomaly' in the 'Regs' for pilotage at night.

 

Under the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 there is no 'Reg' for a night signal to indicate there is a pilot on board the ship.

 

However, there is a 'Reg' requiring a night signal for pilot boats - an all round white light above an all round red light.

 

Notwithstanding, some ports have enacted 'local' regulations requiring a ship with a pilot on board to display the same white over red lights a pilot boat does whilst engaged in pilot transfer duties.

 

So, depending which port you are in at night, you may or may not see the white over red signal lights on your or other ships when pilots are on board.

 

Of course, you may see the pilot flag at night too because 'someone' has been slack & forgotten to have the flags taken down at Sunset!

 

Sorry to be a pain, but the anomaly I was alluding to was the requirement for a ship to have a signal flag by day but nothing by night.

 

Ship's Masters know where to pick up & drop off pilots by consulting the charts which have clearly marked Pilot Boarding Grounds.

 

Also, harbour/port pilot boats wait in national waters, either near or inside the port limits of each port.

 

Regarding the Collision Regs: they apply in all waters International or National unless they are varied by Local Regs & those should follow the International ones as closely as possible.

 

Thank you

I learned some things here.

[Silvery Seas Cruiser]

Sorry to be a pain, but the anomaly I was alluding to was the requirement for a ship to have a signal flag by day but nothing by night.

 

Ship's Masters know where to pick up & drop off pilots by consulting the charts which have clearly marked Pilot Boarding Grounds.

 

Also, harbour/port pilot boats wait in national waters, either near or inside the port limits of each port.

 

Regarding the Collision Regs: they apply in all waters International or National unless they are varied by Local Regs & those should follow the International ones as closely as possible.

 

They also need to know which side of the ship the pilot intends to enter the ship, so the pilot boat can pull up on that side and not waste time and effort trying to discover which side of the ship has the ladder.

 

I'm no pilot, believe me. I spend way too much time listening to the harbormaster at Port Everglades communicating with ships. He usually tells them (does not ask them) which side of the ship the pilot boat will be approaching. I don't know how the decision is made. Some of the very experienced people here will surely know.

 

I have found the posts and photos here fascinating and want to thank everyone who has posted and contributed to the topic. I love to watch pilots and pilot boats plying their trade. It is a disappointment for me when on a cruise ship, if the pilot boat works from the other side and I can't watch the delicate and dangerous process. I want to send out a shout out to those who drive the pilot boats. They have a difficult, challenging task to make the pilot's entrance into a ship as safe as possible.

[WAPilot]

They also need to know which side of the ship the pilot intends to enter the ship, so the pilot boat can pull up on that side and not waste time and effort trying to discover which side of the ship has the ladder.

 

I'm no pilot, believe me. I spend way too much time listening to the harbormaster at Port Everglades communicating with ships. He usually tells them (does not ask them) which side of the ship the pilot boat will be approaching. I don't know how the decision is made. Some of the very experienced people here will surely know.

 

Regarding which side of the ship a pilot boat will use depends on the prevailing weather direction relative to the ship's course inbound & outbound.

Wind, sea & swell direction are the primary concerns.

 

To safely embark or disembark a pilot, the pilot boat must be on the 'lee' or 'leeward' side where the boat is 'sheltered' from the worst of the weather.

Quite often ships have to 'make a lee' by altering course to put the prevailing weather on or near the beam of the 'windward' side.

 

For 'Arrivals', the normal procedure is for the ship to call the Port on VHF a few hours before POB & ask which side to rig the ladder.

The Port Control/Signals Station operator, in consultation with the pilot boat skipper & the pilot will then direct the ship which side to rig the ladder, or prepare a 'gun port' door depending on the type of ship.

 

When the pilot boat is near the ship, it will assess the prevailing conditions & if the lee is insufficient, the ship will be asked to alter its course to a better heading. The pilot will also direct the ship to proceed at a particular speed.

With modern pilot boats, this can be about 8 to 10 knots, but in some places with older boats, the ships are almost stopped or moving quite slowly.

 

'Outbound' - the procedure for disembarking is similar, except as the pilot is already onboard the ship, he or she, will liaise with the Captain & decide which side to use & then put the ship on the best course.

Prior to leaving the Wheelhouse, the pilot will confirm with the pilot boat skipper via VHF if the ladder is rigged correctly & if the 'lee' & ship's speed is good enough. If it is not, the pilot boat skipper will suggest an alteration of course & sometimes speed.

 

As well as weather, other factors which determine the best course are other 'traffic', navigational hazards & adequate 'searoom' to manoeuvre.

[sail7seas]

Is the pilot always met and accompanied to the bridge by the Security Officer or could the escort be any ship's crew? Would it be 'etiquette' for a non-officer to escort the pilot?

 

This is such an interesting thread and I so thank all who have contributed. I'm learning so much that really interests me. :)

 

 

[John Bull]

.......... or could the escort be any ship's crew? Would it be 'etiquette' for a non-officer to escort the pilot?

 

 

I think I know the motive behind your question ;)

But if you're planning to borrow a uniform & escort the pilot, why not do it in style & borrow one from a senior officer :D

 

JB :)

[BillB48]

Is the pilot always met and accompanied to the bridge by the Security Officer or could the escort be any ship's crew? Would it be 'etiquette' for a non-officer to escort the pilot?

 

This is such an interesting thread and I so thank all who have contributed. I'm learning so much that really interests me. :)

 

 

 

An officer who has communication with the bridge is to meet the pilot wherever the pilot comes aboard. Since the most direct way to the bridge isn't always obvious it could be that person take the pilot to the bridge or it could be someone else. Sometimes the pilot may have some gear as well as change of clothes etc. that the ship's crew will see that it makes up to the bridge. Many times however on ships (non passenger) you will find that the officers including the captain just wear regular clothes and there isn't anyway of telling what their job is by what they are wearing.

[sail7seas]

I think I know the motive behind your question ;)

But if you're planning to borrow a uniform & escort the pilot, why not do it in style & borrow one from a senior officer :D

 

JB :)

 

 

LOL...... I didn't think of that but thanks for the idea. ;)

 

 

 

An officer who has communication with the bridge is to meet the pilot wherever the pilot comes aboard. Since the most direct way to the bridge isn't always obvious it could be that person take the pilot to the bridge or it could be someone else. Sometimes the pilot may have some gear as well as change of clothes etc. that the ship's crew will see that it makes up to the bridge. Many times however on ships (non passenger) you will find that the officers including the captain just wear regular clothes and there isn't anyway of telling what their job is by what they are wearing.

 

 

Thank you.

It is all so interesting to me. :)