Risky Pilot Job

What exactly is his job?

He comes and gets someone off the ship and....what?

Numenorean wrote in post #14125010
What exactly is his job?

He comes and gets someone off the ship and....what?

The harbor pilot's job is to assist the Captain navigating the ship out of a port. The skipper of the pilot boat is not the harbor pilot. I was told that in accordance with international law, each ship must have a local pilot on board when entering or leaving a harbor. There must be a minimum size to require a pilot, I imagine, but certainly a 100,000 ton cruise ship qualifies.

I thank each and every one of you who has complimented me on these photos. It was just a matter of being in the right place and time. I had no idea what was happening when I went up to that high forward deck - I was hoping for some sea birds!

In and around the Solent, the pilot vessel aproaches other vessels (usually smallish stuff) it considers might cause a problem and instructs them to alter course. As a working instructor I had an excellent working relationship with these people and have a lot of respect.

great sequence! Two of my great grandfathers were Boston harbor pilots. My mother tells me that my younger sisters likely future husband who is first mate working on Captains hours is also hoping to become a pilot.