Technical & Training Report: January 2009

March 14th, 2009 by JCB
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The Technical & Training committee met in November and this was the last meeting that Gareth Rees (Southampton) chaired before stepping down as chairman. I would like to place on record the dedication and skills that Gareth has shown and given to this committee for more than 10 years, (4 as chairman) and I hope I can match his input. Having worked closely with him over the last 4 years and having seen at first hand his hard work and dedication to the UKMPA T&TC wing, he will be a hard act to follow! 

During his time on the committee he has fronted many projects the biggest was his involvement in the ETCS / EMPA project which he ended up chairing for the final 2 years. ETCS is an excellent document and it is unfortunate that it is gathering dust on the shelves of EMSA. If ETCS did one thing, it addressed the required IMO A960 pilot training standards in Europe, and the shortfall in future pilots. ETCS is complete, ready to be implemented, and up to IMO A960 requirements. When the DfT finally loose faith in the ports industry to deliver an approved pilot training program in the UK, which they have failed to do for over 10 years, we the UKMPA have one to give them. It could be up and running by January 2010, all the DfT have to do is ask us. We are the experts! “Pilots training Pilots”

Gareth will be staying on as a co-opted member of the T&TC working on the AZIPILOT project for the next 3 years and will assist if and when there is any viable movement in the Pilot training stalemate.

Over the last number of years the T&TC have moved into various high level projects both within the UK and Europe which have and will generate income for the association. Gradually we are gaining the confidence of important bodies. As pilots we all have a vast wealth of experience and knowledge. In today’s world experience and knowledge cost and at last we are receiving remuneration but more importantly recognition for our hard work. 

There is a problem that we on the T&TC have been finding of recent. When we go to meetings we are viewed as a union and not a professional body. I have nothing against UNITE and in fact I for one will record my thanks to the T&G (as they were then) for their assistance to the Belfast pilot in gaining self-employment, some 2 years ago. What a difference 2 years has made, for me, my family, colleagues and also the port.  I will always retain my union membership it is that important, but I believe the association must move forward and look at becoming an institution or professional body.  The doctors, financiers etc all have their professional institutes which govern themselves. Should we not also be going in the direction of self managing our profession?  “The Chartered Institute of Marine Pilots” – perhaps?

To all pilots, I ask you to promote your importance and believe in yourselves. You work for the ship owner, regardless of who remunerates you for your service; the ship owner foots the bill. We owe it to them to be the best, they are our customer.  As pilots you are probably the most important member of their bridge team and no one should strip you of that dignity or position!

Notable agenda items discussed in November 2008:

MarNIS is finished and a big thank you to Nigel Allen for the efforts he has put into the project. He has a separate article in the pipeline which will explain the outcome and future for us, but his work I believe will take piloting to a new height both in efficiency and safety.

A889 –SOLAS V – Nick Cutmore from IMPA addressed the meeting and there was a major discussion on pilot transfer arrangements. This culminated in a circular survey for views on changes needed. There was a reasonable response to the survey and this has allowed us to submit to NAV 55 through the MCA the views of the UKMPA pilots. It is worth noting that we had the sole right to submit for the UK. The response has been good and it looks like our submissions will be used as the back bone for any changes. This subject will be hot, up until the IMO meeting in July 2009.I would ask any pilot who comes across a ladder which he is concerned with or any new type of ladder or ladder part to take a photo of it and forward to myself. Photographic references are very handy when talking with persons not 100% familiar with pilot ladders. I am really short of combination ladder pictures including the hatch type ones and the new breed of real ladders. 

Pilot coats – Seasafe have been developing a spray hood for back fitting to their coats. Jeremy Dale assures me that a new design prototype has now been tested and will be available for retro fits and new coats from early spring 2009. There were discussions regarding the dead weight of the coats if the bottle does not fire. Jeremy again has confirmed that it is acceptable to slightly inflate the lifejacket by mouth, to counteract the weight of the coat. Regardless of this if you fall from a great height you will go under, probably 1-1.5 meters as your body decelerates. One last point and a very important one – back packs and shoulder bags will impair the lifejacket operation should you fall in. It might even break your ribs, cause you breathing problems or worse. Please stop wearing them when climbing ladders, use a heaving line. One further plea – there are many bad media shots and video footage of pilots, climbing ladders with back packs, climbing with your coats open, ladders trapped etc. If you are involved in filming, think safety and try and look professional before the camera starts to roll.  

Pilotboat seats – The RNLI have introduced a new seat for their all weather boats which is available for purchase. They are quite expensive but a lot cheaper than a broken spine or back which occurred to a Cork pilot recently when their pilot boat fell of a wave. It is estimated that he will be off work for 1-2 years!

National Occupational Standards – very little movement here accept that after closing nearly 18 months a go as PSSL they have re appeared under the new brand name of PSS and have moved from Africa house to Carthusian court London. It is hard to keep a straight face after an 18 month re branding which results in the removal of the “L”. On the bright side they have little under a year to get their proposals on pilot standards up and running (January 2010). The deadline set by the PMSC steering group in conjunction with the DfT.  Their foundation degree course is still been suggested as a way forward, but the education level it is pitched at is well below the standards we require for the profession. 

Deep Sea pilots – Roger Francis reported a shortage in recruits and staff, which is probably the start of what we will see in port pilots soon. On a positive note all the deep sea pilot companies met recently and they appear to be working with each other. Roger spends a great deal of time on traffic routing schemes and wind-farm traffic problems at various committees.

Pilot boat Survey – It is 10 years since the original survey went out from Gareth, and it was decided to revamp the records so local secretaries will be receiving a pro former soon asking for details. Dave Roberts from Liverpool will be fronting the survey. 2 Australian pilots were viewed recently on a 3 month world tour including some UK ports looking at pilot boats so they could buy 2 new ones. 

Bridge resource management – various BRM courses are appearing from the colleges both in the UK & Ireland. BRM for Pilots is a requirement of IMO A960. At the time of writing there is no course in the UK or Ireland which is approved A960 compliant. The UKMPA  and MCA are aware of this fact. Anyone who is thinking of going on a course please get in contact with me or Dave Williams on the section committee for advice.

One last request – if anyone has any problems with ship designs, rudders, dead slow speeds, pilot ladders, pilot coats etc please tell us! An e-mail to any of the team will start the ball rolling and we can help, advise or make other aware. All the T&TC committee contacts are on the UKMPA web site.

Brian Wilson

Chairman T&TC

Belfast Pilots