How Harbor Pilots Dock Massive Cargo Ships (Full Process)

In this video we follow along with Capt. Dane of the Palm Beach Harbor Pilots Association on a windy Saturday morning as he brings in a massive bulk carrier cargo ship into the Port of Palm Beach. This vessel which has a draft of 27 ft, and a beam of 99 ft is the maximum allowable size vessel allowed to transit into the port due to the shoaling going on that forces all vessel to have a maximum operating draft of 29 ft. No room for error. Also featured in this video is a regular cargo vessel for the Palm Beach Pilots, which sails a every other day run to Nassau. The pilot for this ship gets hands on and docks the ship manually.
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Learn More about the Palm Beach Pilots: palmbeachpilots.com
Note: This video series is made entirely possible and is in collaboration with Florida Harbor Pilots Association. The FHPA represents the interests of Florida’s nearly 100 professional harbor pilots around the state, advocating on their behalf regarding various state and federal issues that impact them. floridapilots.com/
#harborpilot #portofpalmbeach #cargoship

[@petequesada2936]

I really appreciate how clear and precise his commands were. Fast and confident. A joy to watch.

[@The_holy_stromboli]

Great work!! I’m a 3/M and always impressed by the skill and knowledge of Pilots.

[@rp1645]

If anyone doesn't think these Pilots are not so, soo important in knowing Ports ( tidal flow, currents) and just how harbor is layed out. The poor Captain can't remember every port he kr she goes into, even though today its more and more like ferry boats or cruise ships going back and forth to same cargo delivery or load. These Pilots are so vital and necessary especially on the biggest container ships. Think about that Ladder climbing in darkness and a ruff sea state. My hat is off to these professional Pilots.

[@GamingWithMaddog]

The ship Capt knows it all also but a pilot is required at all US Ports

[@ramblingrob4693]

@@GamingWithMaddog and UK

[@EM_ARCHER]

This work is NOT EASY! by no means! Hats off to you sir! 👍🏻👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@chiphill4856]

I was born and raised in an active port city. These guys are held in high regard. It's a fascinating and difficult job.

[@johntreuschel2608]

Very informative. Often wondered who, how etc. Thanks for posting and looking forward to others.👍

[@BestofBoatWorlds]

Great video Tyler! Definitely a cool and unique experience with the Palm Beach Pilots!

[@TheTylerShow]

Yes it was! Thanks Nathan!

[@wmrae123]

Interesting to see the pilot operating the controls of the second ship (on the bridge wing) rather than giving commands to the ship's helmsman.

[@jacobarthur-os5dc]

I just don't know why he did That?

[@jacobarthur-os5dc]

I don't know why he did that🙄🙄

[@paulrosa6762]

Thanks for the learning experience

[@ZoeBihh]

Thanks for sharing mate!👍🏾

[@mmcleod111]

That was very cool. Thanks for sharing

[@cindywiech2675]

Fascinating…..thanks for these videos

[@ggssmm2]

How times have changed, my father was a NewYork harbor pilot and always went to work in jacket and tie with the local news paper for the ships capt

[@thomasrose7262]

Indeed ... I was a pilot for over 30yrs in SFran and Seattle ... this guy is decent but probably wants to get off and go to golf links! : )

[@ericbaker9453]

No suit and tie here at this working port. Between the tropical climate and sometimes up to 10 ships per day per pilot, we’d be in disarray wearing anything impractical for climbing.

[@ggssmm2]

@@ericbaker9453 Are you implying that New York is not a "working port" , he was also a Bar pilot not docking pilot so never did 10 ships in a day

[@chiphill4856]

Dane is a certified stud!

[@eire711]

Thank you for sharing. This is very interesting to witness.

[@EM_ARCHER]

Amazing video!!!!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 what an experience!

[@user-wc1ft6jv8r]

Nice job

[@LaszloBagi]

Awesome video Tyler! Glad you got to go!

[@TheTylerShow]

Thanks Laszlo! More to come from this series! 😁

[@rspearsonyt]

good content, thanks for sharing 👍

[@TheTylerShow]

Glad you enjoyed it! More to come!

[@osmelalbertovargasdomingue9227]

Greetings from Havana Pilot’s

[@tedfisk1211]

Excellent video.

[@TheTylerShow]

Thank you very much!

[@robertpowell5447]

Good job Dane Nice production work Tyler

[@TheTylerShow]

Appreciate it, Robert!

[@capt.edwardmontgomery1636]

Excellent video Tyler! The pilots are true hidden heros in the daily movement of thouands of foreign and domestic vessel in the U.S. & Canada's hurndred of major ports. Other hidden heros and the highly skilled and safety conscious pilot boat captains and 'mates - including those in the Great Lakes such as myself. And most would not trade the job for any other....😊

[@yachtnut5201]

That’s bad ass!!!

[@cindywiech2675]

Pretty fascinating & those tugs sure earn their money! Hard stop on that rope ladder on and off the ship though!

[@chiphill4856]

Imagine making that ladder jump at night and in a storm!!

[@JohnDoe-xu2vx]

Cant believe they have not come up with an easier way to board and disembark these ships yet.

[@heathersowell1053]

What type/brand of watch is the pilot wearing! Love it.

[@Jimbofromemfo]

That is an awesome video. Would be cool if you could shadow a pilot for a cruise ship

[@TheTylerShow]

That's a great idea! Let me see what I can do! 🤙

[@henriachalme443]

Tresbellevideohenri😊😊😊😊

[@876seafarer]

First pilot I ever see touch the controls 😮

[@ocaviation1769]

Epic vidieo bro i am a fan. Can u make a vodeo on how pilots dock ships in port canaveral? Thanks

[@TheTylerShow]

Thanks! I can try and make that happen! 🤙

[@ocaviation1769]

@@TheTylerShow your welcome

[@caseyjames6306]

Is that ladder from Home Depot, Menards, or homemade?

[@df446]

Walk in like you own the place . . . .

[@stevenhj3124]

As we said in the Navy; "Well done."

[@2256tracks]

Just wondering, which is easier to dock, cruise ships or cargo ships ? Or are they about the same?

[@TheTylerShow]

Good question! Pilots are hands off for cruise ship dockings and more or less just watch the Capt. or Officer on watch do the docking where on Cargo ships the pilot is more hands on with them working with the tugs as a lot of cargo ships have less than ideal propultion which forces them to use a tug. I have a video coming out in two weeks that shows a cruise ship docking from the pilots POV. 🤙

[@2256tracks]

@@TheTylerShow Thank you. I'll be watching and waiting.😃

[@wayneschenk5512]

No mistakes job.

[@glennbzt]

Harbor pilot is in charge once he boards…

[@ramblingrob4693]

Need strong arms an nerves especially when rough water. A rope ladder still used after what 200 years ?

[@user-cl1fc3zw8l]

😔 safety first all crew 🌊

[@Luis-xr6ec]

I have a question 🙋🏻‍♂️ Why does an outside captain come in to dock the cargo ship? Isn’t there already a captain in the ship that can do all that?

[@PillSharks]

The pilot has the local knowledge of the area and the workings of the port… the master can overrule the pilot at anytime if he feels the pilot is doing something he doesn’t like. I think there’s only a couple of places in the world where the pilot takes control and isn’t there in an advisory capacity.. the Panama Canal is one of these areas. ⚓️🦈. My little village is where John Cabot left in 1497 to discover the Americas and it was a man from Pill, Somerset who piloted them down the river Avon from Bristol to the sea.. Bristol likes to claim the Matthew left from Bristol but in truth, she probably left from Hung road in Pill as the river wasn’t navigable on one tide back then.. pilot was James Ray and up until a few years back we still had a Bristol Pilot working who was direct decent of James Ray!

[@chiphill4856]

The local pilot knows the local water, the currents, the prevailing winds, the effects of tide, then hazards, the shallows, the local tug operators and much more. It's a highly complex act to maneuver a ship that big through a series of narrow channels without an incident. I'm not a harbor pilot but I live in an active port city and know several of them personally. It is an admirable job. Not for everyone.

[@Claytyrus]

And them boys make some jack. Dudes probably knocking down 2mil a year

[@freighter1097]

How much does a Harbor Pilot make in the United States? The average Harbor Pilot salary in the United States is $107,884 as of April 24, 2024, but the salary range typically falls between $79,428 and $130,312.

[@Claytyrus]

@@freighter1097 Mississippi River pilots around Baton Rouge and New Orleans are a cult and knock down right at a million a year. If your daddy or Grandpaw wasn’t a pilot you aren’t getting in. They keep it in the family.

[@byutrain]

Oh! So this is what Tom Brady is doing after retirement

[@maxx8299]

Привет из России🇷🇺 👍

[@Captainphillips294]

Look at me... I'm the captain now

[@jjosephm7539]

Pilots are advisors to the Master, except in the Panama Canal , where they take control

[@TheTylerShow]

Incorrect. As seen in this video, Palm beach pilots take control of the smaller cargo vessels.

[@Gator-xi2jq]

I would rather know why they keep running into bridges?

[@papanoel3999]

Climbing up the ship, from a ship in the bloody sea, 2 letters come to mind. F AND T.

[@nafcd]

that was unexpected to me. i thought pilot would be an older guy. very interesting video though.

[@Crazy--Clown]

Cowboys

[@Chosen1510]

What’s the salary of a harbor pilot?

[@Scatpack-gw9kb]

Probably 80k

[@timothyboone5003]

@Scatpack-gw9kb You’re “probably” pretty far off. You’re $80k would cover 2 months of his salary.

[@Scatpack-gw9kb]

@@timothyboone5003 who cares

[@timothyboone5003]

I’m sure it’s safe to assume the person receiving the salary does.

[@freighter1097]

How much does a Harbor Pilot make in the United States? The average Harbor Pilot salary in the United States is $107,884 as of April 24, 2024, but the salary range typically falls between $79,428 and $130,312.

[@johnchaulk]

I’m surprised the ship’s master let the pilot work the thrusters like that.

[@davidabbitt1744]

Ummmmmm.........that is the job is!

[@johnchaulk]

@@davidabbitt1744 yeah, I know. I’ve worked with ships for over 20 years and I’ve been onboard with a pilot docking, undocking and shifting and I was under the impression from what I saw that the Captain usually worked the thrusters. I know if I were a pilot, I would prefer handling the thrusters as opposed to ordering someone else to do it. Seems like it would be equivalent to playoff a video game but someone else is holding the controller.

[@JeffreyLuardo]

T. Nihgt

[@antoniocuesta3371]

Beautiful job

[@TheTylerShow]

Many many thanks!

[@jeffreysearle2996]

Climbing that ladder is worse than putting the boat in the slip

[@GamingWithMaddog]

It's not a boat it's a ship get it right

[@mrbacklash]

That was painfully slow going up the Jacob’s ladder the longer you are on there the more chance there is for shit to go wrong

[@TheTylerShow]

Haha, you're not wrong about being careful! But for first-timers, slow and steady really is the pro move. Speeding up can make you miss a good grip, and that's when things get hairy. Better safe than, well, you know...

[@seeharvester]

You'd think that in this day and age, we'd have a better way to get the pilot onboard besides a rope ladder. I guess the pilot's career is over when he can no longer climb the ladder.

[@df446]

In some places it's done by helicopter.

[@pkfan5112]

If there were two tugboats and the captain fix the electrical problem before their trip, we wouldn’t have the key bridge accident.

[@AndrewBrown-niblick]

You know nothing about ships my friend ! Capt is in charge even if a pilot is on board he is responsible

[@TheTylerShow]

Where did I say that in the video? That is a bold claim to say to someone without knowing their background. I been on the water most my life and have been doing work with the pilots for a few years and have been on many ships. 🤙