Use of pilots

zagmund

I always thought that the use of pilot vessels was required in tricky environments such as ports with tight approaches, extra large vessels, strong tides, etc . . . . or perhaps on the initial visits of a vessel to a port for crew familiarisation, education, etc . . .

I'm just back from taking the Oscar Wilde from Rosslare to Cherbourg. On both arrival and departure we were accompanied by a pilot vessel. Is this normal ? It's not like the vessel is new, the port is small, etc . . .

Any ideas what the story is there ?

z

Innisfallen

Oscar Wilde must have a captain who doesnt have a Pilotage Exemption Certificate, which is awarded after, among other things, guided through a number of voyages in and out of the harbour (50% of which must be in darkness), and an exam by the harbour.

LiamoSail

The Pilot boat is only the pilots taxi so to speak. Its presence is of no relevance. Whats relevant is that there was obviously a Pilot onboard. As above, if the Capt does not posses a Pilotage Exemption Cert, you've got to take a Pilot. Of course the Capt may have his PEC, but may still want the advise of a Pilot for any number of reasons, if this was the case, most likely because of some exceptional circumstances

Cookie_Monster

Has modern electronics, mapping, computer control, gps and radar/sonar not made this position some what redundant over the years?

Are we not at the point where the autopilot can effectivly take into account wind and tide and pretty much navigate and dock itself?

Ok - clearly not as pilots still operate everywhere but why not?

Tabnabs

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

Has modern electronics, mapping, computer control, gps and radar/sonar not made this position some what redundant over the years?

Are we not at the point where the autopilot can effectivly take into account wind and tide and pretty much navigate and dock itself?

Ok - clearly not as pilots still operate everywhere but why not?

No more than cruise control could park you car, the autopilot is actually just an auto-helm whereby the rudders are controlled by a relatively unsophisticated computer.

It still takes a lot of skill and experience to manoeuvre a ship, especially in high winds or tight harbours. Modern propulsion does make it easier, as do a bank of thrusters, but the mark 1 eyeball is still the most reliable and valuable piece of equipment on the bridge (and the stern and the foc'sle).

LiamoSail

Tabnabs wrote: »

No more than cruise control could park you car, the autopilot is actually just an auto-helm whereby the rudders are controlled by a relatively unsophisticated computer.

It still takes a lot of skill and experience to manoeuvre a ship, especially in high winds or tight harbours. Modern propulsion does make it easier, as do a bank of thrusters, but the mark 1 eyeball is still the most reliable and valuable piece of equipment on the bridge (and the stern and the foc'sle).

Agree with all this, however that saying does my head in. I agree with the sentiments, but its very David Brentish