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Harbour Pilot - Working conditions

Kaiurungi Aka

Working Conditions

Harbour pilots are based in ports and have their own office. They work in harbours and travel on pilot launches to or from vessels, such as container ships, cruise ships, fishing boats or oil tankers where they perform the bulk of their duties. Harbour pilots may also work on board tugboats and large yachts. Conditions on board these ships can vary.

Robert Kerr watching a berthing from the deck

Robert Kerr and a ship's master observing the ship berth

Equipment

Harbour pilots use a range of equipment including:

navigational instruments, such as Global Positioning Systems (GPS), and tide and harbour charts

radio equipment

beacons and marker buoys

tugboats

pilot launches

pilot ladders

computers

safety equipment, such as reflective jackets, life jackets, harnesses and steel-capped, non-skid shoes.

Nigel Meek climbing a pilot ladder

Rodger Laycock consulting a harbour chart

Hours

Harbour pilots do shift work and their hours are often irregular and long. They may also be on call.

"It is very definitely a 24-hour operation and that means shift work. Shipping isn't regular, so some days may be busy and other days won't."

Nigel Meek - Harbour Pilot

Contact with people

Harbour pilots interact with a wide variety of people, including tugboat crews, other ships' crew (who may be of different nationalities), port workers and management.

"It's a huge team effort. You're all working to the same end, which is to get the ship alongside the wharf efficiently, and as quickly and safely as possible."

Rodger Laycock - Harbour Pilot

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