What’s it like working as a Pilot?

Ports and Harbours employ marine Pilots to ensure the safe navigation of ships in their waters. Pilots board ships entering or exiting the port or harbour, and navigate them safely in and out avoiding submerged rocks and other hazards.

This is a physically demanding role, where Marine Pilots are required to board moving vessels from small high powered launches, often in rough seas. This can involve climbing high ladders to access ship decks.

This can also be a tense role, where Pilots may be faced with high risk cargoes, poor manoeuvrability, and communication difficulties, so the ability to remain calm under pressure will be a sought after quality. Due to the 24-hour nature of the work there is often an on-call requirement for Pilots and shift or weekend work is likely.

Photo International Maritime Pilots Association

What kind of work can I do?

Pilots within ports and harbours are responsible for the safe berthing and releasing of ships from quays, and the safe transit in and out of the port. As such, Pilots will need specialist ship handling knowledge, as well as up-to-date information on the port drafts and channel dimensions.

Before boarding the ship, the Marine pilot has to plan the course of the ship taking into account the weather, tides, the size and the weight of the ship, and its handling characteristics. The Pilot will also assess if there is a need for tugs. Once onboard, the Marine Pilot navigates the vessel in close contact with the Master and senior Officers, the control tower of the port and any other ships in the immediate area which may affect safe passage.

Where can I work?

The majority of pilots work in a specific port, so their local knowledge is unrivalled, although some pilotage positions are offshore, for example transiting environmentally sensitive channels.

Generally, Pilots are professional seafarers who have served on ships in the capacity as a Deck Officer or Master. But the key to being a competent Pilot is detailed knowledge of a port approach or dangerous navigational area. For this reason, it is not unusual that the Harbour Master is also the Pilot in smaller ports. Entry requirements vary depending on the pilot authority but candidates will usually need a ship master’s certificate.

With unparalleled specialist knowledge, a Pilot is one of a port’s most revered and respected assets.

Photo International Maritime Pilots Association

Robert Kerr, Harbour Pilot

“Seafaring was my chosen career, and piloting was a natural progression from that. It was always an aim of mine to be a captain at sea then to go into piloting, and fortunately I’ve been able to do that. There’s not a lot of piloting jobs around so I was lucky to get a position, particularly in my home port.”

Robert Kerr’s work ensures the safe navigation of ships of all shapes and sizes into a harbour, and their subsequent berthing at port. “I get taken out in the pilot boat to different ships. The ship’s master always has the overall responsibility and I advise the captain because I am familiar with the port. I carry out a briefing with the captain before we enter the harbour and I indicate to him some key vessel speeds or manoeuvres.

“I could be on a small Korean fishing vessel one day and a large Italian cruise ship the next. We also instruct the port tugs and use them to help direct the vessel as it approaches the wharf.”

Robert began his career in the Navy, transferred to the Merchant Navy where he became a second mate, before becoming a captain for a coastal shipping company. He has been harbour pilot for two years, and is approaching the completion of his training. He has just finished piloting tankers and is looking ahead to his next challenge, large container vessels, before he moves up to the cruise ships that now frequent New Zealand’s waters.

“It’s been a long road, and I still have a few challenges ahead. But I like the challenges and I think my natural attributes of having a sense of movement, speed and perception out on the water, fit this job.

“I get a sense of achievement from the safe navigation and berthing of a ship. Every now and again a ship’s master may say ‘job well done pilot’, and then I get that extra bit of job satisfaction from knowing the job is safely completed.”

SOURCE: Career Services New Zealand

How big is this sector?

The industry is facing a shortage of suitable pilots as a large proportion are retiring over the next two decades.

This is compounded by a global shortage of Officers and consequently means that there will be an number of openings for Pilots.

While technological advancements in navigation systems will likely reduce the number of ships that need compulsory pilotage in port approaches, confined port areas still need the expert hand of a Pilot and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

Photo International Maritime Pilots Association