Articles

APL Sydney: Another worrying case?

APL Sydney                            Photo: ATSB

As mentioned in my editorial, shore authorities nvestigating maritime incidents are seemingly blurring the delineation between civil & criminal law in seeking to condemn seafarers. Although this case hasn’t led to any criminal proceedings the following article, which has been collated from several press reports of this incident, suggests that pilots need to be very alert to this worrying trend. Read the rest of this entry »

ECDIS Part 2: Navigating Using ECDIS

He had bought a large map representing the sea

Without the least vestige of land

And the crew were much pleased when they found it to be

A map they could all understand.

Lewis Carroll

Farewell!                 Photo: JCB

TRAINING:

In part 1, I expressed concerns over the training and in particular the need for any ECDIS user to be fully competent in the particular type of ECDIS placed on board his ship. Whilst such type specific expertise through training is being achieved the top end of the shipping industry, such as cruise liners and large tankers, the evidence is emerging of an alarming lack of comprehension by many officers of, not just their own system but of ECDIS and its functions in general. These are not just personal concerns but reflect those of many Industry observers. Read the rest of this entry »

Hydrodynamics: Professional Research by Pilot

By: Mike Robarts AMNI, CP RINA Pilot: Harwich Haven)

As the UKMPA gears up for Continuous professional development (CPD) it is motivating to see the number of works being contributed by pilots and their districts into professional research in the different areas of pilotage.

MV Bramau in Eastham Lock.                                Photo: Mike Robarts

I recently received an invitation from Peter McArthur, a Class 1 Pilot on the Canal, to trip with the Manchester Ship Canal Pilots and witness ‘first hand’ the investigations undertaken into marine Hydrodynamics and Interaction. Read the rest of this entry »

A Pilot Praised!

MV Pacific Dawn Photo: Unknown from web

All in a day’s work

With shipping and seafarers generally being associated with negative press reports it is extremely rare for a positive shipping report to appear in any of the mainstream press. It is therefore with pleasure that I came across the following press report from Brisbane.Pilots face similar “challenges” on a daily basis so it’s good to see at least one pilot being praised for his skills in averting a disaster. However what is most alarming is the cause. A fuse affected by a salt water leak?? JCB Read the rest of this entry »

CRIMINALISATION OF THE MARITIME PILOT

By: François Laffoucrière.

In previous issues I have covered the alarming trend of criminalising seafarers and pilots and despite the protestations from IMO General Secretary Efthimios Mitropoulos, criminal prosecutions for maritime accidents, especially those involving pollution are on the increase. The following is a a paper on the issues relevant to pilots presented to IMPA by French pilot and Maritime lawyer, François Laffoucrière. Read the rest of this entry »

PEC & TRIPPING PILOTS: PROCEDURAL ADVICE

What is the status of a pilot when a trainee pilot or PEC trainee is undertaking the pilotage of a vessel?

The view of the UKMPA is that the pilot must have the “conduct” of the ship, although the Master retains command. Read the rest of this entry »

UKMPA MEET WITH DfT

On the 18th January, following an invitation from the DfT, the UKMPA had two meetings  with Civil Servants and others to discuss the draft Marine Navigation Bill (DMNB). Read the rest of this entry »

The Bristol Channel Sailing Pilot “Skiffs”

In the October 2007 issue I ran a feature on the pilot gigs of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. That feature was based on information contained within a, long since out of print, book called “Azook” by Keith Harris who kindly permitted me to freely use his research for my article. In addition to the gigs, the waters of South West England were also frequented by another famous pilot craft, the Bristol Channel sailing skiff, or cutter as it now more commonly known as. Despite the ongoing massive popularity of this sailing design, the only authoritative book on the craft was written in the 1970’s by Peter Stuckey. The book was updated and re-published in 1999 but again has long since been out of print and used copies rarely appear and attract very high prices. At the time of writing there is one copy on the internet in the USA with an asking price of $216! In what was probably my best investment in recent years, I purchased a copy in 1999 when it was republished and Peter Stuckey has kindly granted me permission to use extracts from the book for this article. As an introduction, I cannot better Peter’s own which dedicates the book to: those brave men of the Bristol Channel who, with their stout boats, went seeking “downalong”

Feature pic 1jpg

Read the rest of this entry »

Pilotage Standards: “Unrealistic & Unworkable”!!

As reported in the July issue, the DfT and MCA have effectively handed full control of pilot training and standards to the port run body : Port Skills & Safety (PSS). Read the rest of this entry »

Legal opinion: Piloting oversize vessels

PILOTING VESSELS OVER AN AUTHORISATION LIMIT.

Following the HA’s taking over rrsponsibility for aothorising pilots following the 1987 Pilotage Act, many districts retained the authorisation structure and wording from the Trinity House authorisations. Read the rest of this entry »

XXI IMPA Congress - London 2012
UK Maritime Pilots' Association
European Maritime Pilots' Association
Internation Pilots' Association SITE SPONSORS
Navicom Dynamics
OMC International