Technical and Training

ECDIS: The Challenge for Pilots by Kevin Vallance

June 13th, 2011 by JCB
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The inaugural Electronic Chart Display & Information System Revolution (ECDIS) Conference was held in London on November 24^th & “25^th at the South Kensington Forum Hotel, London.

My attendance at the conference was sponsored by Trinity House, London who asked me to give a presentation about the “Current standards and experiences witnessed” on vessels that I have piloted. Read the rest of this entry »

Certificate of Competency (CoC) For Pilots Peter Wylie ( Tees)

June 13th, 2011 by JCB
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Work towards a national qualification for pilots has recently resumed and John Pearn and I attended a meeting at Port Skills and Safety (PSS) in January this year to restart the project. Read the rest of this entry »

Forth Pilots achieve ISPO Accreditation

March 15th, 2011 by JCB
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Captain Keith McLean MNI , (AFP)

The Association of Forth Pilots has become the first pilotage service in the UK to be accredited by Lloyds Register under the International Standard for Maritime Pilot Organisations (ISPO). Read the rest of this entry »

NORWEST INTERACTION: Specialist Training & Certification for Pilots

March 15th, 2011 by JCB
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Captain Peter J McArthur. LLB (Hons), MIMarEST, MNI. (Manchester)

Omegagas: Manchester ship Canal          Photo: Rosalind Thomas

Following your article ‘Hydro-dynamics: Professional Research by Pilots’ (April 2010) in which Mike Robarts (Harwich) outlined the effects of extreme ship-interaction on the Manchester Ship Canal, I felt it might be of some interest to the pilots to learn that the theories deriving from the research have been turned into practical knowledge and is impacting on ship-handling practices and maritime safety. Read the rest of this entry »

UKMPA Hosts Azipilot Meeting

March 15th, 2011 by JCB
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“Independence of the Seas”                     Photo: Simon Brooke-Webb

There are 15 partners in the EU AZIPILOT Project with each partner taking a turn at hosting a quarterly meeting. Read the rest of this entry »

HARWICH PILOT VISITS PAPUA NEW GUINEA (PNG)MARITIME COLLEGE

March 15th, 2011 by JCB
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Kevin Constable MNI

During a recent two week visit to Port Moresby I was invited to give a presentation to students at the PNG Maritime College in Madang.

Astrolabe Bay                                          Photo:  boogies with fish Read the rest of this entry »

E- Navigation

March 15th, 2011 by JCB
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E-NAVIGATION

Anyone with even a passing interest in Nautical papers and journals will have seen references to the concept of e-Navigation.  Since the end of 2005 the challenge at IMO has been to format an e-Navigation policy within the international shipping industry. Read the rest of this entry »

ECDIS Part 3 : Problems!!

October 21st, 2010 by JCB
Posted in Features, Technical and Training | 2 Comments »

For Sale: One careful owner!!     Photo: JCB

In part 2 I mentioned that one of the key problems of ECDIS was the lack of training, especially type specific training. I have now piloted around 20 vessels which are navigating solely on ECDIS with no paper charts and only on four of these have I found all officers fully conversant with the functions and confident that they could safely navigate their vessel without the familiar paper chart as a back up. Read the rest of this entry »

Azipilot Project

October 21st, 2010 by JCB
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Gareth Rees & Nigel Allen (Southampton)

A Typical propulsion “pod”

The Azipilot Project is a three year project part funded by the EU The Project was put together, and is being managed by Newcastle University and comprises of representatives, or Partners, from Naval Architects, Training Establishments, Simulator Manufacturers, Hydrodynamics and Pilots with the UKMPA being the representatives of the Pilotage profession. Read the rest of this entry »

Port Revel Manned Model Centre

October 21st, 2010 by JCB
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John Pearn (Milford Haven)

Lake Revel has a surface area of 5 ha (13 acres) and is located in woodland about one hour’s drive from Lyon in the South of France.   photo: Port Revel

I have known Arthur de Graauw, the Director of Port Revel near Grenoble in France, for a number of years, having met him at various pilotage conferences. Read the rest of this entry »