It's Not Just Valet Parking

As a child you would have heard tales about ships and seamen, pirates and shipwrecks. As you grew older you would have learned that ships are the lifeline of trade among countries. Everything from food to machinery comes by way of sea in huge ships piloted by sea captains. But what you may not know is that the captains are responsible for guiding the ship until they reach a port. Bringing the ship into the harbor and anchoring it is a task taken up by a different captain: one who belongs to a specific port and is familiar with the waters of its harbor. These captains are called marine pilots. Marine pilotage has a history as long as sea travels. The recorded history of marine pilotage dates back to about the 7th century BC. References to pilots assisting ships navigating close to the shore have been found even in the Holy Bible and in the writings of Homer and Virgil.
Pilotage service is very often mistaken as valet services for ships. However, it is a job that requires a high degree of proficiency, quick and independent thinking, and knowledge about the port, its waters and local conditions. "It 's also about risk management" says Jose Alappat, the Harbor Master of Cochin Port. A marine pilot is responsible for not only the safety of the ship and the passengers aboard, but also the marine environment and the port infrastructure. While inside the congested port waters, the pilots navigate the ship on behalf of the owner and master of the vessel. If an accident occurs inside the port waters, the insurance company will cover the vessel only if a licensed pilot was on board at the time of the incident. They also have a responsibility to the port for not damaging port infrastructure while navigating or bringing the vessel to the berths. If oil tankers are grounded or have collided, the oil leak caused can be disastrous for the environment and marine wildlife.
In addition to the shallow flats, currents are another danger to deal with when bringing ships into port.

References: to pilots assisting ships navigating close to the shore have been found even in the Holy Bible and in the writings of Homer and Virgil. Pilotage service is very often mistaken as valet services for ships. However, it is a job that requires a high degree of proficiency, quick and independent thinking, and knowledge about the port, its waters and local conditions. "It 's also about risk management" says Jose Alappat, the Harbor Master of Cochin Port. A marine pilot is responsible for not only the safety of the ship and the passengers aboard, but also the marine environment and the port infrastructure. While inside the congested port waters, the pilots navigate the ship on behalf of the owner and master of the vessel. If an accident occurs inside the port waters, the insurance company will cover the vessel only if a licensed pilot was on board at the time of the incident. They also have a responsibility to the port for not damaging port infrastructure while navigating or bringing the vessel to the berths. If oil tankers are grounded or have collided, the oil leak caused can be disastrous for the environment and marine wildlife. In addition to the shallow flats, currents are another danger to deal with when bringing ships into port. During different tides, currents may be calm or change from one direction to the other. Understanding how the tide affects these currents is a key in any harbor. The same strategy for docking a vessel during an incoming tide may not work during an outgoing tide. The harbor pilot must keep this in mind when working in the harbor. Often, the harbor pilot may have adverse weather conditions with which to deal as well. Just as currents may affect the movement of a large ship, the wind can also significantly alter the direction of the ship and how it reacts. Windy conditions are very common around ports and harbors. Often, the wind will change direction during the course of the day, adding another variable a pilot must deal with. In most cases, becoming a harbor pilot requires no specific type of degree, only a great deal of experience and local knowledge that is only gained through practice. Most will start out as assistants, and work their way up to being pilots. Some may be employed by specific companies whose ships regularly go in and out of certain ports. The vast majority, however, are independent contractors. This offers the best chance to gain regular employment. Some harbor pilots may specialize in certain types of ships. For example, some may be more skilled at bringing in large freighters. Others may specialize in helping military ships through treacherous waters. Some may even be employed to help large passenger cruise ships. The harbor pilot, in order to be successful, must be comfortable with whatever ship he or she is operating. Even the slightest mistakes could lead to disastrous consequences. In most cases, a harbor pilot will also work very closely with the harbor master. The harbor master is in charge of law enforcement and customs issues, as well as determining which ships dock in what locations. Harbor pilots are usually union members who work under a collective bargaining agreement between the International Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots and the government responsible for a harbor. They are union employees, not employees of the ship they may be operating, so their role is advisory rather than one of command. Nationally, harbor pilots average more than $400,000 per year. This translates to $192.31 per hour. The pilot 's contract might also include allowances for travel or extra pay, called adjustments, which are not included in wages. A harbor pilot 's salary rises each year by the percentage, usually six percent, specified in the collective bargaining agreement. The only considerations affecting the harbor pilot 's salary are his relative seniority in the collective bargaining agreement and the number of years he has served under that agreement. Overall employment of water transportation occupations is projected to grow 20 percent from 2010 to 2020: faster than the average for all occupations. As the economy recovers, the demand for waterway freight shipping should grow, increasing the need for these workers. As a child my family and I went on a cruise to celebrate my grandparents’ 50th anniversary. Being so young I don’t remember much, but for whatever reason, I remember one of the formal dinner nights we attended aboard the ship. On this particular night, the captain attended and gave a speech to his passengers and thanked us all for joining him. At the end of his speech he announced times that he would be available in the commons for pictures and autographs. Everyone was so excited to get a chance to speak with the commander of such a large vessel. A few days later, speaking with one of the crew members, my sister and I learned that the captain of the ship wasn’t the one to bring the ship into port. A specially trained harbor pilot boards the ship only to navigate it through the shallow waters of the harbor. So I wondered, “What is all the hype about? Why does everyone want to meet the captain?” A harbor pilot, or harbor master’s job, often is not recognized. While the captain also has a lot of responsibilities, the harbor pilot does too. However, unlike the captain, a pilot does not receive any recognition or prestige for his job well done. Without the harbor pilot, captains would not be able to navigate their large vessels in and out of ports safely. Works Cited: "Water Transportation Occupations." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 11 July 2012. Web. 22 Oct. 2012. .