Pilot Boats

Building on the Tug Boat theme, most harbors around the world require vessels to take on a pilot when entering or departing the local waters. The pilot is a highly skilled mariner with unique knowledge of their particular harbor who works directly with the ship’s bridge crew. They are on call 24/7, in all kinds of weather, and they are tasked with the safe and smooth operation of the ships coming and going from the facilities. The pilots are delivered on specialized motor boats that are optimized for sea-keeping, speed, and safely transferring the pilot back and forth.

The 17 meter Pilot Vessel Yanaga at the White Bay Cruise Terminal in Sydney Harbor, New South Wales, Australia.

The pilot boat in Milford Sound, South Island, New Zealand.

Pilot Vessel Endevour cruises at 17 knots with a maximum speed of 26. Port Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand.

The Awaroa is a 16 meter high speed pilot boat based in Lyttelton Harbor, South Island, New Zealand.

Pilot Vessel Alalba in the harbor at Santa Cruz de La Palma.

P20, a Halmatic Nelson 35 pilot boat based in Casablanca, Morocco.

P20 with a crew member on deck to assist the Pilot when departing from the ship’s ladder. Many pilots have been injured or killed transferring between the boat and ship.

Pilot Vessel Iheu Do Lido lines up with the ship’s boarding ladder. The pilot and his assistant are ready for the crossing.

The pilot boat is brought along side the ship and steadied by the fenders until the pilot is safely on the ladder. The assistant is there to catch him if he slips.

The pilot safely delivered, the pilot boat zips back to the Funchal, Madiera harbor.