Trish Berry
Crown & Ivy Dress, Ann Taylor Sweater
A qualified captain steers the ship when out in the ocean.
While exiting a port or entering a port, a special person, a ‘maritime pilot’, is on board ‘temporarily’ to guide the boat out to clear waters. Or to guide the cruise ship back into port.
This special pilot can be called a port pilot, ship pilot, harbor pilot or just pilot.
This ‘special’ pilot knows the local waters.
This maritime pilot knows the reefs, depths, currents and any hazards that could affect the large ship’s movement and safety.
This pilot knows the tides, swells, and shoals that the captain of the cruise ship will not know.
We are in good hands when the maritime pilot and our captain are taking care of us.
I say the maritime pilot is on the ship ‘temporarily’ because he is. He gets the ship out to sea, away from the port, and then jumps off the large Royal Caribbean Cruise Line ship onto a small pilot boat.
When a cruise ship is coming into a port, the maritime pilot comes out to the cruise ship and jumps on to guide the large vessel in, or the maritime pilot is helicoptered to the cruise ship.
These are dangerous jumps from a ship to a small boat or from a small boat to a large ship. We have witnessed it many times.
Timing is crucial.
Below are photos of two pilot boats I was able to photograph.
Once the maritime pilot has made that leap from one ship/boat to another, the people on our large cruise ship cheer and yell.
We don’t know if he can hear us, but he always gives a wave of his hand.
His pilot boat is headed back to his port, so it immediately makes a turn back away from the cruise liner.
And it is his port, because he is qualified to know the underwater terrain and its dangers of his special (specific) port.
Requirements for a maritime pilot:
- A bachelor’s degree in marine transportation or maritime studies.
- Have at least three to five years of experience as a captain of a ship or as an officer.
- Required to go through pilotage apprenticeship or training program.
- Has to pass written exams.
- Has to obtain a maritime pilot license or certification.
- Has to undergo continued training and education.
Below is a photo showing my husband who was safely delivered to an island with the help of a maritime pilot and then the captain of a Royal Caribbean Cruise Line ship.
We place our safety in skilled hands. It takes coordination from land and from sea for a cruise to be safe.
Our many thanks to those who enable cruising.
I tip my hat at those ‘maritime pilots.’ They are brave, courageous men.
Safe travels!! Have fun!!
Many smiles to everyone!!