How a pilot gets off a fairly large ship

Departing a 159,000 tonne 274 metre long tanker at the Humber Pilot station

[@SinanGhareb]

This video brought me back to the days we sailed with my father on board oil tankers back in 80s and 90. That moment when the door opens and you are greeted by the smell of the ocean, the sound of your feet on the deck, the horizon, how massive the tanker is and how wonderful and unique experience it is. Thank you for this video.

[@SinanGhareb]

@Stroke-u5g our last trip was 1990. We flew to Italy, boarded the ship and headed to Turkey, then headed to Italy again, then France, then ended it at Greece. It's been 34 year and I still remember it like it was last week. The excitement of waiting for the boat take us to shore, the fun my brother and I had at the bridge, the smell of grease and oil, even the smell of the elevator. Every time I take an elevator and has a bit of grease smell; I'm teleported back. My wish before I die would be to be on the deck of a tanker for one last time. Just 30 minutes. That's all.

[@rajeshjoshi1486]

Great job mr pilot every dollar u earn is worthy good job by crew members Good respect for pilot Stay safe always

[@GuyjKite]

Wow. Now thats a person of nerves of steel. Brave as heck. Tip my hat to them.

[@philgray1023]

It is official. There is no way I could do this. Acrophobia and this job do not mix well. Thank you for posting this video Edward. I shall now relive this in my nightmares.

[@aguywholikesbrownstripes4634]

Why do I find this oddly satisfying?

[@riley2005]

Aguywholikes brownstripes wtf

[@davebeals1718]

Thank you Edward for enlightening me. I've never been around ships or even boats, so that makes perfect sense. Always something new to learn. Thanks again for your comment.

[@odin-legosydhagen9113]

Try a ferry They are exiting

[@burningacid4336]

Those windshield wipers are just something else

[@AdrianJayeOnline]

the trick is NOT TO LOOK DOWN, I remember climbing ladders at a job the guy said, just look where your going and when your at the top focus at the job in hand

[@thebosphorusships]

The visuals are interesting, I will follow.

[@binrahmat.khairulnizam7743]

The weather's pleasant, bad weather is totally something else, rolling, pitching, swells, crest, troughs could increase difficulty level by more than ten folds...🤗

[@margaretcampbell2681]

Great video ❤

[@arulvishwakarma007]

Thats one hell of a big ship there

[@randbarrett8706]

How nice of them to give you a ‘red-carpet’

[@SuperPirate100]

Nearest I'll ever get to being royalty ! If you've not been on a ship before the path is non skid and is the safety walkway round the ship

[@laurastuart3814]

Even more beautiful with an English accent.

[@SuperPirate100]

@@laurastuart3814 Thank you, the accent is a birthright, in the UK it's a Yorkshire accent , or a Yorkie for short .

[@laurastuart3814]

@@SuperPirate100 I am a fellow Brit and I would love to see more videos of tug boats and pilots.

[@SuperPirate100]

@laurastuart3814 There are a few on my page but I have retired now

[@LibbyRoseEmbroidery]

You're amazing! 👍🏻

[@leftfield3836]

“Morning Jeff” 🤣😂🤣😂🤣 gotta love it. Just another day at the office for these gentleman.

[@SuperPirate100]

It seems casual but it's a way of being sure Geoff knew I was there and ready to come down , the launch crew always bounce their weight on the bottom of the ladder to make sure it's secure. Working as a team with the launch crew ensures as few risks as possible .

[@leftfield3836]

@@SuperPirate100 UR THE MAN IN THE VIDEO!!!!!! UR THE PILOT!!!!!!!!

[@SuperPirate100]

@@leftfield3836 yes , I'm am 68 now and retired

[@leftfield3836]

@@SuperPirate100 WOW, never in a million years would’ve I expected to chat with the pilot I saw on a KZbin vid. I mean this sincerely, thank you for your service the way I see it you were helping run the world. God bless. Thank you for this sir. I’ll never forget this.

[@leftfield3836]

Excuse the double “this”

[@mattiasilmjarv6193]

0:38 anyone else tought he was going to jump in the water?

[@NitinKumar]

Haha same thought

[@afizhafranrakyatkungkingka4078]

Yes

[@donovan9356]

Naw you can tell by the type of door

[@Apollo20037]

Mattias Ilmjärv ssme lol

[@HanhNguyen-lf2iu]

N

[@saojhu7058]

This is how i feel getting off a bunk bed to go to the toilet

[@Cranbob]

Me to, I always have to greet some 54 year old crew of sailors before I can finally go to the toilet

[@Cranbob]

...I live in a weird house

[@WelshBlades]

Same 😂

[@michaelkegley9838]

Bottom bunk always

[@Floridamapper369]

Same

[@Lucius_Chiaraviglio]

Interesting design of windshield wiper (sliding side to side instead of pivoting) on the boat the pilot rode away -- never saw ones like that before.

[@SuperPirate100]

More robust , they take a hammering in rough weather , even working underwater if the boat ships a big one

[@Lucius_Chiaraviglio]

@@SuperPirate100 Makes sense. I just never saw (or at least never noticed) this design before. Wonder how they keep water from getting in through the slot that the wiper slides in, though.

[@scootersandcooters]

Lucius Chiaraviglio gaskets, o rings, etc

[@richielittlewood867]

A true weather cakewalk day for this !

[@mister_nobody]

I always wonder how much they make doing this

[@19manu06]

I felt so sweaty and nervous while watching this. Wow!!!

[@rajeshjoshi1486]

Nice video of disembarking

[@sherhanshahjihan7351]

Happy to be back 🙂

[@likolove16]

That kind of climbing only sucks when the ship is rocking and your swinging and trying to aim for the boat at the bottom.

[@binrahmat.khairulnizam7743]

Right on, that weather's pleasant, bad weather is totally something else, rolling, pitching, swells, crest, troughs could increase difficulty level by more than ten folds...🤗

[@earthleakage8888]

Surly there should be a 20m or 30m retractable fall arrest cable. It should be mandatory on all ships.

[@SuperPirate100]

Absolutely not , when a pilot step/ jumps off the ladder onto the launch you have to be free and clear of the ship, in rough weather the launch may be rising and falling 5 to 8 metres alongside the ship being pulled back by an arrest cable would stop you transferring onto the launch at the crest of a wave then riding it down into the trough .

[@sowhatwearedoomed]

Getting off the ship would be a days work for me .

[@mcgoo721]

The pilot boats always look so cool

[@SuperPirate100]

The design of those boats is something over 40 years old now and they are all being replaced now with modern boats , I'm retired niw but hopefully the new boats will be more comfortable than the old ones which were really uncomfortable in rough weather and long runs .

[@brianchesser576]

If this is fairly large cant imagine what really large would be

[@MadGeek17]

Maersk triple E-Class is large

[@TankR]

fucking ginormous. In a technical sense.

[@MacGamerPro_]

VLCC and ULCC are the biggest ships ever made

[@jawadad73]

whatever it is, they"d better have a working elevator in the accomodation

[@enzocg9103]

The Anti-Clickbait

[@anditatan7973]

Pilot afroducky ho

[@mrjohnstgeorge]

The rope ladder is where I stop. Forget it. I assume he had to first climb up that thing. FORGET IT.

[@AlmostHeavenly]

Same!!!!!!

[@atsekoutsoube]

Have done it for some years but no more. Simply when you feel that you cannot do it you just stop doing it. Otherwise it is not so hard as it appears to be (at least not always).

[@pohp942ht]

Pantheon Tankers. Thats an awesome vessel

[@khatderi]

Awesome footage guys... Stay safe.

Her: Wanna come over Me: But I’m working... Her: I’m home alone ;) Me:

[@brock6286]

A fairly large ship.... and. I thought my 6 meter boat was big.

[@cubingwithcarl4572]

HellTide_ Brock And now there is even plans on building a ship that’s 600 meters long lol

[@herawatiharahap5702]

Kapal

[@charliedallachie3539]

@@cubingwithcarl4572 heck let’s just build a floating city at that point.

[@xz3693]

You don't seem to know what a port pilot does...

[@brock6286]

@@xz3693 bold assumption considering my dads a harbour pilot lol

[@cynthiathomas404]

that ladder makes me nervous I wish there was a better way for them to geton and off the boat stay safe guys

[@AdrianJayeOnline]

that is brave, NO WAY could I do that

[@etern6580]

We seafarers do it

[@stoufer2000]

Great film. Thanks for sharing

[@chrisk8187]

Just like it is for me to use the bathroom from my bedroom, or it at least it feels that way.....whee...........so to speak.

[@dannygray9924]

Very interesting but a strange question... is the chap on the pilot boat "Geoff" or "Jim"?

[@SuperPirate100]

Geoff

[@ryker8902]

the pilot is the one with the camera.

[@ColchesterCO3]

@@ryker8902 He wasn't asking that you dip shit.

[@hanchesterman5661]

@@ColchesterCO3 don't be rude

[@TankR]

@@hanchesterman5661 cheese marshmallows!

[@Anchorage01]

She is gng on her ballast voyage

[@SuperPirate100]

Yes she was heading for west Africa to load for Europe

[@TravelToTheWorldAaliyahtravel]

Amazing experience really awesome

[@petergarbutt9521]

WHY IS MARK, THE SKIPPER OF THE PILOT BOAT, "NOT" WEARING HIS PFD ??

[@SuperPirate100]

He is inside the boat , not required unless you leave the cabin

[@petergarbutt9521]

@@SuperPirate100 NO DISRESPECT, YOU DESERVE YOUR RETIREMENT... YET THE UK PILOTS COP, SAYS, PILOT AND CREW, UPON LEAVING THE BIRTH, ARE RECOMMEND AND SHOULD BE WEARING THERE PFD CORRECTLY... BUT THEN CONTRADICTS ITSELF BY SAYING, PILOTS "NO MENTION OF CREW", SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF WEARING AUTO PFD, INSIDE CABIN, FOR CAPSIZING OR FLOODING ISSUES, NOT IN THOSE EXACT WORDS ???... CANNOT FIND, ANY MENTION OF AUTO PFD INSIDE CABIN, FOR UK COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN COMPULSORY PFD USE... COMPLETELY OPEN TO PERSONNEL INTERPRETATION.. ENJOY YOUR RETIREMENT, STAY SAFE

[@TariqArsalan]

I'm gonna join the merchant navy soon and specific part makes me most nervous. Lol

[@zolocharlie3050]

I saw a very good camera, what's the brand of your body camera?

[@SuperPirate100]

Its a Go Pro hero 7 black

[@athensmajnoo3661]

What happens if the ship arrives at the port in the night? Does the pilot still climb the rope and planks ladder to get on the vessel to direct it to the harbour ? Or the ship has to wait till day break?

[@SuperPirate100]

Pilots and the port work 24 hours a day 365 days a year

[@Sohailmasood786]

when you goin dowen word .in this point i think the one rope from top of ship you hoke with him and then you going down word after you reach safely he pul the rope ..

[@GibranAlgahizan]

Mantap channel nya broo Sukses selalu untuk channel nya ya boss Salam dari Indonesia 🇮🇩

[@pulakmazumder3347]

Nice video.

[@sureshwagh7122]

Amazing bro

[@rachelolvera9435]

I got dizzy just watching him do down the stairs.

[@babua6225]

Good video

[@suratunbegum7506]

Video very good.

[@banyuurip5207]

Good job STS MUARA BERAU ANCHORAGE

[@ColchesterCO3]

Great job. Lucky chap. Although, What about in a high sea and it's unsafe to get back to the pilot vessel ?

[@SuperPirate100]

Its always unsafe getting on and off , it relies on split second timing, get it wrong and a 25 tonne pilot launch is going to leave you as a red smear on the side of the ship , if it's rough you just look at it on a job by job basis. this was shot on a calm day with just 2 metres vertical movement between the ship and the launch .

[@ColchesterCO3]

@@SuperPirate100 Yes, I get what your are saying. I myself have done an inherently dangerous job. Some jobs are as dangerous as you make them. If you concentrate on what you're doing and don't take unnecessary risks then you''ll probably be ok.

[@parekoyvlog645]

Salute to all seafarers..

[@PillSharks]

Great username for a Pilot... there’s a good chance Blackbeard would have walked the street of my village!

[@gb3037]

Cool vid

[@57629589]

Can a pilot go from an outbound ship right to an inbound or vice versa?

[@captjim11]

Yes and they commonly do

[@ColchesterCO3]

Cruise ships have a door nearer the waterline for pilots, I know that for sure.

[@SuperPirate100]

Yes, done it a few times but don't like doing it, it makes for a very long day and driving someone else's ship while tired is not a very professional thing to do , also to get an inbound ship times with an outbound ship on a very tidal river is not an easy thing to do .

[@binrahmat.khairulnizam7743]

Happened when there are shortfalls...🤗

[@davebeals1718]

They rolled out the red carpet for him even. 😁

[@SuperPirate100]

See what you mean Dave, non skid paint is expensive so what they do is paint the deck with ordinary gloss paint , which is slippery as hell when wet, then they paint walkways in non skid paint in a contrasting colour, so wander off the red 'carpet' at your own risk .

[@williamhendrix3253]

Edward Teach I was wondering about that

[@lindaaneline3011]

One massive ship wow

[@SuperPirate100]

Average size , she is a little over 150,000 tonnes, I hold the river record at 340,000 tonnes, even that is big but not massively big.

[@Ja.KooLit]

Is your camera a intrinsically safe? Because if it wasnt, wonder how that tanker Capt / Company allowed you to...

[@SuperPirate100]

No but then neither was my hand held radio, personal man-overboard locator beacon, strobe light and water activated beacon, but then the camera , which is totally waterproof ( and gas tight) in it's own right and in a second armoured watertight case and on a safety line should be OK

[@binrahmat.khairulnizam7743]

That's a Greek Tanker... Just close an eye...🤗

[@BLUESKY-zt1nv]

The fine anxiety can't hook the ratio.

[@daymcshobel159]

The part that I hate, climbing down! 🤣

[@jjosephm7539]

Some pilots arrive by helo.

[@andrewknox7070]

Going down is easy, boarding is a different matter. Coffee Pilot? No, just oxygen......

[@SuperPirate100]

I'm just retired and never had any trouble going up.

[@andrewknox7070]

Nothing personal intended or implied, Edward, merely an observation. Have a good retirement.

[@binrahmat.khairulnizam7743]

Right on...🤗

[@jackmesser4678]

Morning Jeff!

[@JIMWRCI]

Greek Ship ???

[@binrahmat.khairulnizam7743]

T Yeah, the tourism posters gave it away as Hellas...🤗

[@scottontheboat2340]

Whats the big deal🤔looks like me heading for the bathroom every morning 😁

[@BoredAmerican]

Stolen

[@FrankieT666]

@@BoredAmerican two comments up the guy didn't even get a like

[@bazra19]

The crew on the larger vessel should have thrown a life belt over, and possible a smoke generator float, (1) To mark the spot (2) For the man overboard to hang onto. There were no man ropes. The rescue ladder should have been lowered sooner. Ive never been in favour of bringing a casualty onboard over the stern, due to swell and prop danger There should be a rescue ladder on both sides, and a hoist over the top of the wheelhouse that can be deployed on either side, pilot cutters have a tendency to roll heavenly in most weathers when stationary, (Much like hauling a net in on a Side Winder trawler) Useing the leeward side you use the role to your advantage. In fact I have hauled a man inboard over the side, without a ladder, using the role of the cutter, without the assistance of a hoist.

[@SuperPirate100]

What manoverboard is this ? I think you have the wrong video , this a pilot disembarkation video

[@bazra19]

Opps, forgive an 84 year for jumping ship mid stream.

[@pasghetto975]

can someone tell me why the swap pilots?

[@katiejones8276]

Hi Edward, my name is Katie Jones and I am a digital journalist with CBS 10 Tampa Bay. We are working on a story about the importance of maritime pilots and I was wondering if you'd allow us to use this video on all our platforms with courtesy to you. Please let me know if you are okay with this. We are working on a deadline, so any response as soon as possible is greatly appreciated. Thank you!!

[@SuperPirate100]

Yes feel free, if you wish to add a name to the video my real name is Steve Woodward .

[@katiejones8276]

@@SuperPirate100 Thank you Steve, will do!!

[@ranisinha8301]

Hi How pilots get on/off ship when it's pitching and rolling too much?

[@struck2soon]

What was the name of the ship? Looks familiar, certainly the poster in the stairwell does! Quite a few tankers this size load here on the Tees for discharge at IOJ, a d are restricted to a draft of about 12.5m due to the shallow nature of your estuary.

[@SuperPirate100]

Its the Astro Polaris , all Greek vessels have pictures of Greece in the alleyways and stairwells, on the Tetney Buoy the max draft is 15.2 metres , more or less full load but less upriver

[@struck2soon]

@@SuperPirate100 Yes, definitely been here on the Tees. I may have piloted it myself at some point, but with over five thousand acts of pilotage under my belt it gets hard to remember specific ships...

[@rogerexwood6608]

@@SuperPirate100 Thanks for confirming this is on the Humber, good to know

[@ronz101]

That day was a good day.

[@vinm300]

Blimey it's no less precarious once you step off the ladder : I'd be holding on with both hands on that boat.

[@mohdzaki5505]

It's called combination ladders

[@abark]

It's always harder for a man to get off

[@riley2005]

abark wtf why

[@nobaddaystravel6855]

Edward Teach, or shall we call you Blackbeard? Lol. How long does it take to become a harbor pilot? My late uncle is was a ferry boat pilot in Seattle in the 80’s-90s.. I vaguely remember going up in the wheelhouse as a kid. I have pictures of my 3 year old self up there with him.

[@SuperPirate100]

Ahhh jim lad that well known Pirate, or maybe pilot. I went straight into piloting with a short training period, prior to this I had been in the British merchant navy for 32 years, the last 15 as Captain. If you have seagoing experience as a deck officer training on the Humber takes around 6 months to become a class 3 pilot for ships up to 10,000 tonnes , 3 years experience and another exam gets you to class 2 and 20,000 tons, further experience / exam gets you to 40,000 tons , over this you become a VLS pilot ( Very Large Ship) which is over 40,000 tonnes - I hold the river record of 340,000 tonnes .

[@nobaddaystravel6855]

Edward Teach seasons I learn something new everyday. I’m in the U.S. not sure what the qualifications are here for one. I live in West Texas the desert so no ships where I am. The closest port is 9 hours away in Galveston.

[@rakshatshetty9452]

But where the fuck are u guys going? U left d ship 🚢

[@mine_plays2713]

Just to say why would a pilot be on ship?

[@SuperPirate100]

A pilot is licensed to bring the ship into and out of the port or river providing local knowledge such as use of tugs etc the ship just would not have

[@SuperPirate100]

All ships over a certain size are required to have a pilot on board for entering and leaving the river. The ship may have a captain who knows his ship but he is unlikely to know the river which is where the pilot comes in to safely navigate the shallow water and strong tides and berth and unberth the ship . I also issue instructions / ask the tugs to carry out whatever manoeuvres are needed to safely get the ship in and out .

[@mine_plays2713]

Edward Teach ok I just wondered I’m into ships so thanks for the info your a good help.

[@brucehenkelman9852]

EASY BORDING! TRY THE, COLUMBIA RIVER BAR!!

[@vincent_4936]

Why TF am I watching this at 3am

[@athensmajnoo3661]

What does the pilot DO? Isn't there a captain driving the ship already?

[@SuperPirate100]

There is a captain and he Navigates the ship from port to port, a pilot is a local adviser for a particular port , he has knowledge of:- the local water depths, tides, currents, the berths there must be over a 100 berths on the Humber ( but not all for this ship) , he knows all the radio frequencies, and most of all for a ship like this - how to work with the tugs . the pilot and captain, officers and crew should work as a team to get the ship safely to and from the berth although a lot leave it to the pilot and just watch .

[@athensmajnoo3661]

@@SuperPirate100 thank you.

[@montuam]

Hello Edward, I’m liking to see your videos, I always look for that tape of Chanel. Questio, You guys do that procedure at the night too?

[@SuperPirate100]

Yes , the river has 120 pilots, we work 11 days on 7 off and are on call 24 hours a day, so it matters not what time it is , we get a call, we go. A memorable one was we were about to sit down for Christmas dinner and the phone rang, that's it off you go , part of life of a pilot.

[@richardmorris7063]

Well i never, up until a month ago i never thought about this.but it's kind of interesting & a little dangerous. thanks

[@avinashbharrat9149]

how large is that ship

[@SuperPirate100]

Apologies , only just noticed your question , she is L 274, B 48 metres and 159,073 tonnes capacity

[@DrTWG]

How much roughly for a ship that size for the pilotage out of port - are there numerous variables factored in ?

[@SuperPirate100]

I've been retired for 4 years but a rough fee for a very large ship that needed 4 tugs and two pilots would be about 60 to 80K

[@nztrucker1542]

That ship looked like it was under thrust. Wouldn't wanna fall off an get sucked under

[@srahman2153]

20th century still use the rope ladder

[@binrahmat.khairulnizam7743]

It's normal at sea...

[@athensmajnoo3661]

Fairly large ship??? Looks like a township, the guy walks forever on the red carpet!!!

[@SuperPirate100]

She has a cargo capacity of 159,000 tonnes , the largest I have piloted was 340,000 thousand

[@athensmajnoo3661]

@@SuperPirate100 phew... Beyond my imagination!!

[@stevie1463]

Use of magnets required for that pilot ladder, surely.

[@SuperPirate100]

Not needed , the gangway is lashed to the hull and ladder to the gangway, never trust magnets, in heavy rolling they cannot hold .

[@stevie1463]

@@SuperPirate100 It looked further down the hull that the ladders were not flush and loose?

[@SuperPirate100]

@@stevie1463 The length of the ladder below the gangway (9mts max) is never secured , there would be no way of doing so safely anyway.

[@stevie1463]

@@SuperPirate100 you’re totally correct. That pilot ladder and the crew access platform. I’ve watched this video again and I can’t believe it but I meant to leave that comment on another video which was quite terrifying 🙈 This was indeed a straight forward disembarkation by the pilot form a vessel with a large freeboard. Thank you !

[@williamhendrix3253]

what’s up with the weird pathway on the deck of the tanker?

[@SuperPirate100]

To paint the whole deck with non skid paint would be expensive so the paint in ordinary paint and the red stripes you see are the safety walkways in non-skid , if the deck is try you can go were you like but when wet you have to be careful, all ships use this system.

[@mariamargiannis7255]

Very brave man..

[@SuperPirate100]

It's all part of the job which keeps ships moving , it's risky but not dangerous of you are careful.

[@mariamargiannis7255]

@@SuperPirate100 very gutsy ....I would panic if I had to that that's why I said brave man

[@MrBlueStudios]

Quite different than how they do it on a Cruise Ship.

[@binrahmat.khairulnizam7743]

This one an Oil Tanker...🤗

[@joeyiguban8428]

Large ships but no elevator what is that.

[@flybeep1661]

You American? I bet you are.

[@SuperPirate100]

An increasingly common feature , I berthed and sailed a 180,000 tonner with 7 decks in the accommodation and no elevator , her captain was getting on it years and really struggling , ships improved over the years but some are getting ever cheaper .

[@binrahmat.khairulnizam7743]

The have it all in the accommodations... Not outdoors, or else the Marine Engineers and Electrician would surely cursed The Naval Architect...🤗

[@binrahmat.khairulnizam7743]

Most new generation LR1, LR2 (Suezy) equipped with elevator in accoms...🤗

[@donovan9356]

I don’t understand what is going on here

[@ferdinandfrancis9673]

Scary as hell.

[@winkyantonio3226]

150.000 dwt ?

[@SuperPirate100]

Dwt is the capacity of what a ship can carry ie cargo, fuel and stores , in this shop is 150,000 tonnes