Nav Brief - How to look after your Pilots

02 Feb 2022 The Navigator

Always keep in mind that there is a human life on the other end of your ladder - guard it well and imagine it is your own

David Patraiko FNI - Director of Projects, The Nautical Institute

A successful pilotage operation calls for a huge scope of seamanship – from Pilots and ship’s crew alike. At the most basic level, the pilot ladder needs to be rigged well and safely. This may call upon some of the most traditional seamanship skills dating back to tall ships. At another level, Pilots may rely on some of the most sophisticated modern technology to give sub-meter accuracy in positioning and rate of turn – today, that might even mean the use of drones.

In this edition of The Navigator, we look at a wide spectrum of pilotage issues, from rigging ladders to working with modern technology. Pilot boarding arrangements are often still unsafe, sometimes due to bad design, but too often by poor seamanship skills. The International Maritime Pilots’ Association (IMPA) works tirelessly to promote safety and not only provide ‘best practice’ guidance for boarding arrangements, but also conduct annual safety surveys to identify ways of improving safety. IMPA’s contribution here will provide you with some very good advice for helping Pilots boarding your vessel. Always keep in mind that there is a human life on the other end of your ladder – guard it well and imagine it is your own. After all, many navigators go on to be Pilots. One day it might be you on that ladder!

Always keep in mind that there is a human life on the other end of your ladder - guard it well and imagine it was your own

At The Nautical Institute, we are always interested in how evolving technology can be used to improve ship operations. We believe that the right balance of skills and technology will allow us to achieve great things. We have a working group dedicated to keeping automated technology under review, which is chaired by Captain Ricky Rouse, AFNI. This group has provided an article on cutting edge issues surrounding Portable Pilot Units (PPU), Under Keel Clearance (UKC) software, the good practice of exchanging route plans in advance and the use of simulation technology.

Our ‘top ten’ feature lists ways to create and maintain good relationships with Pilots. Sometimes this can be very straightforward. Perhaps one of my favourite tips is ensuring that the windows are kept clean (that is, the real windows, not Microsoft)!

As with all editions of The Navigator, these pages are designed to start conversations. Discuss pilotage issues with your bridge teams and with your Pilots (when safe to do so). Always pay attention to the condition of your boarding arrangements. Don’t hesitate to contact your Captain or DPA if you are in doubt of providing safe access.