What exactly is the purpose of the Pilot Boat......I observed it twice coming in to ports when on the GLORY in March and it would come up to the starboard side and then in no time it would be gone.
Some ports require a certified pilot to take control of the ship inside their waters. To avoid any hassel with unfamilar waters and rules I believe. I'm not completely sure though...
Yes, the pilot boat carries a Port Pilot who assumes command of the vessels while within the port's waters and boundaries. This person is very familiar with the layout of the port, any underwater obstacles and depths. They get on the vessel as the vessel enters the port's boundaries and literally command the vessel up to the dock. When the vessel leaves the dock, the pilot is already onboard and commands the vessel from leaving the dock until the vessel reaches the boundaries. At that point, the pilot boat picks them up and the vessel's captain takes command once again.
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I think it is interesting that even though the harbor pilot in piloting the ship, the captain is still the one in charge!
Have you seen these pilots climb the rope ladder to either get on the ship or off the ship once at sea? Don't slip!
I can one better than that. I have seen passengers climb those ropes to get on the ship when the ship leaves them behind in port! They have to pay a boat to take them out to the cruise ship and then climb the rope ladder to get on the boat. Once they climb through the opening, the captain is standing there to tell them that all charges for this delay will be added to their ship account!!!!
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I think it is interesting that even though the harbor pilot in piloting the ship, the captain is still the one in charge!
Have you seen these pilots climb the rope ladder to either get on the ship or off the ship once at sea? Don't slip!
I can one better than that. I have seen passengers climb those ropes to get on the ship when the ship leaves them behind in port! They have to pay a boat to take them out to the cruise ship and then climb the rope ladder to get on the boat. Once they climb through the opening, the captain is standing there to tell them that all charges for this delay will be added to their ship account!!!!
WOW!
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Darlene Mariner of the Seas Carnival Magic Bloggers Cruise 5 Mariner of the Seas
HAL Statendam Alaska Cruise Tour - 09/09/12; Disney Magic - 12/01/12; Allure of the Seas - 05/26/13
I once saw a harbor pilot jump from the cruise ship to the pilot boat!
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Thanks for the explanation......I never saw the Pilot Boat when leaving port......will watch for it on my next cruise and see if the pilot jumps from the ship to the boat
In some ports,. NO PILOT NO come in to our waters.
The pilot gets you in and out of spaces, ports,out anchorages need to get to the island,,or anchorage safely. I have ridden with them twice.They are a small group with a big job.The pilot of one ship in the chesapeake bay was lost over the side about three month ago,transferring to a big ship in rough waters, climing a laddder to a big ship.
Bob
I think it is interesting that even though the harbor pilot in piloting the ship, the captain is still the one in charge!
Have you seen these pilots climb the rope ladder to either get on the ship or off the ship once at sea? Don't slip!
Darlene,
Actually the pilot is not piloting the ship, he is indeed in command of the movement of the ship in and out of port but the Captain or his designee is still physically controlling the ship.
Actually the pilot is not piloting the ship, he is indeed in command of the movement of the ship in and out of port but the Captain or his designee is still physically controlling the ship.
Hope this helps,
Bill
Let me get this straight, the Captain is still responsible, but is not in command. I get this visual, that if there is an accident, the two of them are standing next to each other, pointing their finger at the other one.
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Darlene Mariner of the Seas Carnival Magic Bloggers Cruise 5 Mariner of the Seas
HAL Statendam Alaska Cruise Tour - 09/09/12; Disney Magic - 12/01/12; Allure of the Seas - 05/26/13
Actually the pilot is not piloting the ship, he is indeed in command of the movement of the ship in and out of port but the Captain or his designee is still physically controlling the ship.
Hope this helps,
Bill
Let me get this straight, the Captain is still responsible, but is not in command. I get this visual, that if there is an accident, the two of them are standing next to each other, pointing their finger at the other one.
Ok Darlene,
The Captain is always in command of his ship but by law there must be a harbor pilot on board as the ship comes into port. The pilot is intimately familiar with the port such as depth of water or other obstructions so he guides the captain. Now as the Captain is controlling the ship and in docking knocks the living jeepers out of the peir which isn't going to happen of course the pilot would say, "I'm not responsible for that you're driving the ship". Now if they run aground the Captain would of course say to the pilot, "hey you are a dumb you know what, you told me the water was deep enough here." It's really not that confusing, you just have to understand the difference between physically controlling the ship and authority for it's movement into and out of the port.
Think of it this way, the traning to operate the ship would be too much for the pilots to know every ship sailing in and out of the port much less staying proficient in that operation.
So the Captain is responsible for physically controlling while the pilot is responsible for guiding it's movement, they reallly are two seperate and distinct tasks.
I understand, Bill, really I do. I just like the idea of them pointing fingers at each other. I know that would never the the case. I realize they each have their respective jobs. And.... I'm very glad that they do. Both are so essential to a safe cruise, and I do love to cruise!
Thank you for being patient with me in my folly.
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Darlene Mariner of the Seas Carnival Magic Bloggers Cruise 5 Mariner of the Seas
HAL Statendam Alaska Cruise Tour - 09/09/12; Disney Magic - 12/01/12; Allure of the Seas - 05/26/13
I understand, Bill, really I do. I just like the idea of them pointing fingers at each other. I know that would never the the case. I realize they each have their respective jobs. And.... I'm very glad that they do. Both are so essential to a safe cruise, and I do love to cruise!
Thank you for being patient with me in my folly.
Hey Darlene,
You are quite welcome, I also find the pilot boat thing most interesting.
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