THE The magazine of thePILOT United Kingdom Maritime Pilots' Association AUTUMN 2017 No. 323 In this issue: Regional Committee News Houston Pilots Narrow Channels UK Ports Conference Report Autonomous Ships EMPA Football Piloting vessels outside your CHA Image: Approaches to the Haven Ports by M Robarts M by Ports Haven the to Approaches Image: Chairman's Report John Pearn A recent communication from the be an increased emphasis on local MCA to the UKMPA, regarding a contributions. Pilots frequently are noncompliant vessel reinforced this the focus of local interest stories. clause. "I'm also mindful that the Such examples are the recovery hapless pilots shouldn't have to make of redundant oil platforms on the the call in such or similar situations, Tees and the excellent cooperation however, to really lend the issue between pilots and the RN regarding of personnel-safety due credibility the new aircraft carrier at Rosyth it will be very beneficial if they do and Portsmouth. In order to keep take a tough stand, consistently and the UKMPA website and magazine Many of us consider pilotage to collectively, and simply refuse to fresh and relevant, the webmaster be a localized industry. However, board if circumstances of the case and magazine editor would welcome our practices are often decided by do permit so." any port, pilotage or shipping related other persons and organisations. news that you have. These can be The UKMPA attends many meetings Please do your part, by becoming either locally relevant issues or larger to ensure that pilots interests and familiar with the pilot ladder events. Additionally, technical items safety are considered. We work requirements and the revised code. of interest, either observed in the through EMPA at the European Both can be found on the UKMPA media or original papers would also Union, and IMPA at IMO. Recently website www.ukmpa.org Please be most welcome. Please send any much of our attention has been at report any deficiencies to us, we will items of interest to office@ukmpa. a national level. The Port Marine strive to advise the next port and org or [email protected] Safety Code (PMSC) and Guide to also follow it up with the MCA. Good Practice (GTGP) have been At the time of writing I am preparing The UKMPA communicates with reviewed with considerable UKMPA for the UKMPA Conference at its members through a number of input. Regardless of the fact that Middlesborough. As well as different channels. they are not mandatory, they are the welcoming many UK pilots we will standard to which ports will be held Round robin emails and circulars are also be joined by pilot colleagues to account. Pleasingly the Pilots sent for local distribution to active from Italy, France, Netherlands, New Embarkation and Disembarkation members via the Local Secretaries. Zealand and Canada. The following Code is now appended to the GTGP. The UKMPA also uses social UKMPA conference will be held in This Code, originally drafted by media streams such as Twitter @ Bristol in May 2018. Peter Russell a London pilot, has ukpilots and the Linkedin UKMPA There are a number of other dates been reviewed many times over the group to provide instantaneous to put in your diary. The IMPA years to keep it up to date with new communication and discussion conference will be held in Dakar, practices and developments. During about topical issues for those that Senegal from 22nd to 27th April 2018. its most recent review the UKMPA have signed up. Many of you will In May 2019 the UKMPA will be (led by Nick Lee, Chairman of the also be familiar with the revamped hosting the EMPA Conference in Tech Committee) was joined by the UKMPA website www.ukmpa.org Liverpool. International conferences UK Harbourmasters' Association, and also the websites of IMPA are an excellent opportunity to British Ports Association, UK Major www.impahq.org and EMPA www. meet with pilots from all over the Ports Group and MCA. Of particular empa-pilots.eu All these websites world. It is often the case that the note, a new clause has been contain a wealth of information that UK has one of the largest number of introduced to the code will be both of interest and a source delegates. Liverpool 2019 will offer of useful information. 4.12 If the ladder presented is you the chance to sample one of noncompliant, or a near miss For many, the Pilot Magazine remains these events. It will coincide with the incident occurs during the transfer, the prime channel of communication. UKMPA conference. It is hoped that an appropriate report must be made Regrettably, due to rising production as many of you as possible will be immediately to the CHA/MCA. and distribution costs this will in able to join us, in what should prove A noncompliant ladder must not future be reduced to two editions to be an exceptional conference as be used until the noncompliance per year. You may notice a slightly well as an opportunity to celebrate is rectified. different format this issue. There will Manchester Pilots' 125th anniversary. Regional Committee News News from Scotland (Region 4) Recent years have seen an increase in large private yachts visiting the Clyde and West Coast of Scotland. It is an area renowned for some excellent cruising and some of the most beautiful scenery in the UK - if and when the weather allows. Most of our berths are commercial berths and docks but we do have a couple of usable berths in Glasgow, and there is a berth in Greenock's James Watt Dock marina facility for private vessel arranged to pick me up in its downriver to the Outer Clyde area yachts. Our pilotage regulations tender at Inverkip marina - a far cry and Loch Fyne. The vessel then require pilots for vessels over 120m from the pilot boats we are used to cruised further on down the West in the outer district, which takes in on the Clyde! I was seated in a large coast of the UK. the main Firth of Clyde, and over 60m leather reclining armchair, there was a The latest visitor was the 78m in the inner district, which takes in 50" TV on the bulkhead and 1" deep long Amaryllis, which required the the river to Greenock and Glasgow. carpet throughout and we cruised out services of a Clyde pilot for berthing Larger private yachts therefore to Eclipse at 30 knots. Once on board and departing at the James Watt require pilots. the vessel I was whisked quickly to Dock marina facility in Greenock. the bridge whilst we waited for the Regular visits by larger yachts This vessel had previously spent a owner and his guests to return to the commenced two years ago with the week cruising the South coast of vessel before proceeding outbound arrival of one of the largest private England but was drawn to Scotland from Rothesay Bay. yachts in the world. The 161m long by a favourable weather forecast and vessel Eclipse visited the Upper In 2016 the 97m long Eos visited scenic cruising areas. I was allocated Clyde anchorages before taking Greenock, requiring pilotage services, to the pilotage for the vessel as she her owner for a ten day cruise of and earlier this year the 66m long departed James Watt Dock for Loch the West coast and visiting various Lady M required the services of a Fyne and Inverary. Once I was on distilleries. She required a pilot four Clyde pilot three times as she visited board there was a short delay as we times during her passages around Greenock and then Glasgow. Her waited for the guests to be collected the outer Clyde area. For one of these owner and his family boarded the from Glasgow airport, but as soon as pilotage acts I was allocated to the vessel in Glasgow and having spent all were on board we quickly sailed vessel from Rothesay Bay anchorage a couple of days visiting the city and moved quietly out of the dock to out to sea. As our pilot cutter and museums she headed back and out of the river. Most of these was engaged elsewhere the vessels are very manoeuvrable even with their large windage. Amaryllis is equipped with twin propellers, twin rudders, a bow thruster and an azimuth stern thruster. Having 4 The Pilot Autumn 2017 made sure we departed without the exception of coal the rest of the John had careers which took them touching the dock walls it is trade in bulk, petroleum products and worldwide until settling into home important for the pilot boat coxswain animal feed appears stable. We are trade work. Bill acted as Master to come alongside very gently starting to see a new generation of with Bowker & King, ARC and finally without touching the vessel's hull car vessels built for the new Panama the Balmoral. He commenced his - black marks from the pilot boat Canal. Generally, these ships are training at Sharpness in January rubbing strakes are not desirable on 199m long and up to 38m beam. 1999, being authorised as a Bristol the pristine hulls of these yachts. To Channel pilot (Sharpness) on the With the final green light being given this end the yacht's crew are always 1st April 1999. He retired on the 30th to the new Hinkley Point C power well prepared with large fenders at June 2017. station on the Somerset coast, a the ready! Amaryllis came back to new trade has been developing over John's path was slightly different. James Watt Dock a few days later the last year.