THE The magazine of thePILOT United Kingdom Maritime Pilots' Association AUTUMN 2018 No. 325 In this issue: 2018 IMPA Conference Sea Machines Pilot Embarkation Platforms Cruise Ship Season Image: Felixstowe by M Robarts Chairman's Report John Pearn 2020. Further details can be found on Ian Storm was introduced to www.saviourmedical.com delegates at the conference, and he is very keen that the high level of On a similar theme the IMPA Pilot support will continue. ladder Survey will again be taking place this year from 1st to 14th Plans are now being finalised for October. The UK achieved one of next year’s joint UKMPA and EMPA the largest numbers of responses conference in Liverpool which will last year. Thank you for all of you run from 21st to 24th May, when who contributed. With nearly 3000 we will also take the opportunity Dangerous pilot ladders, and issues submissions made globally. It is to celebrate 125 years of the arising from them, continue to cross pleasing to note that this survey Manchester Ship Canal. We will be my desk on a daily basis. If you is now being quoted by other joined by pilots from all over Europe, have trouble staying awake at night, important industry stakeholders, both as well as from many other parts you might want to consider joining internationally and within the UK, and of the world. It promises to be a the Dangerous Ladders Facebook the issue of dangerous ladders is spectacular event, culminating in a group. Only recently a pilot was slowly beginning to get the attention black tie, gala dinner at the Liverpool boarding a container vessel using it needs. This is, however, only the Anglican Cathedral. Details can be a combination arrangement when start of the journey. To assist with the found on the website www.ukmpa. the ladder parted at deck level. The survey this year, an app has been org/empa2019 Registration will be pilot fell onto the deck of the pilot developed by IMPA, that will enable opening in the next few weeks. It boat closely followed by 10 metres of you to complete the survey from your is not often you get the chance to pilot ladder on top of him. The initial smart phone. Details will be sent out attend a 125th birthday party, so report from the inspectors concluded very soon. don’t miss this opportunity. If work the pilot boat must have caught the prevents you from attending the At the UKMPA conference, this year ladder. This was quickly rebuffed entire event, please let us know and in Bristol we had to bid farewell to by the pilots, as they had video we can make arrangements so you two stalwart colleagues. Bob Watt, evidence showing clearly that the can attend part of the event. You are who retired from Forth Pilots and pilot boat never touched the ladder. all personally invited, and I hope to Section Committee, has set off The inspector might like to remember see as many of you as possible for a sunny retirement in the south the phrase "assumptions should in Liverpool. of Spain with his motorbike and not be made on the basis of scanty eternally patient wife Helen. I wish As this edition was going to press, information…" Please continue to them both well. I would also like I received the very sad news that report any defective arrangements to extend my best wishes to Harry Hignett, a retired Manchester to UKMPA and the MCA, using the Drew Smith, and his wife Val. Drew pilot and honorary life member of report form on the UKMPA website recently retired from Circle Insurance the UKMPA, had passed away. www.ukmpa.org having helped pilots for nearly three Harry’s interest and involvement The IEC course is continuing to prove decades. Due to the confidential in the UKMPA extended well into to be extremely popular, to date over nature of insurance claims we retirement. His lasting legacy will be 80 courses have been run training cannot publicise the outcomes. his excellent book, 21 Centuries of more than 700 maritime personnel. It Be assured, there are many pilots, Marine Pilotage: The History of the is an extremely relevant course for all and families that have greatly United Kingdom Maritime Pilots’ people working on or near the water, benefitted from the UKMPA Association. He will be sadly missed and it will save lives. If your port has insurances. This in no small part is by his many friends and former not yet booked a course, now is the due to Ken Pound and Drew Smith’s colleagues, we extend our sincerest time to press them. There are still tenacious support of the claims condolences to his family at this some dates available in 2019 with submitted. Drew’s replacement, sad time. refresher courses commencing in 'I've got a nice little job for you' Martin James I'm sure every pilot has received a 'You could go in "stealth mode" will be a stampede up the gangway phone call from the pilot office and and sneak up the river unseen.' to get into town to 'rest and relax' had these words said to him. Why Now I am beginning to come to in a more appropriate way. would they tell you 'it's a nice little a conclusion about the 'nice little job', instead of just giving you the job', but before I make a guess facts about the job straight away? I'm put out of my misery when Every job should be nice, they may all is revealed that it is the Dutch not all be little. submarine HNLMS Zeeleeuw. But hearing these words nearly Strangely this will be my second always means you are going to be pilotage act involving a submarine, given something 'unusual' that will the last one being in 2006, when involve getting your thinking cap on, I was tasked with the outward numerous phone calls and emails, passage of HMS Onyx, as a dead and lots of other 'unknown' stuff to tow. She was decommissioned in deal with! 1991, came to Birkenhead Docks in One of the benefits of being a 2002, along with some other naval member of the UKMPA, as well vessels, and belonged to the Warship as EMPA and IMPA, and having Preservation Trust, where she had attended their conferences, is that been open to the public. The trust there will nearly always be another went into liquidation in 2006 and the pilot who I have met, or someone Onyx was subsequently sold. She else knows of, who has faced a was now moving to Barrow to similar challenge. A quick phone be an exhibit at The Heritage call to Peter Adams (Admiralty Pilot) Submarine Centre. Portsmouth (thanks, Peter) answered most of my questions about Having eventually been given all the boarding, manoeuvring, restrictions, vessel's details, which the office had using tugs, etc. A conversation with I received such a phone call at to hand, I then put my brain into gear Joost Mulder (Rotterdam Pilot) at the beginning of April: 'I've got a and started to think how I was going the EMPA congress in Antwerp also nice little job for you' (alarm bells to get this job done successfully. clarified a few other points as well. ringing). 'Oh, very good,' I reply. A phone call to the agent confirmed 'It's on the bank holiday weekend the arrival and departure dates. With all the plans in place, hopefully, at the beginning of May.' That's the A call to the CHA confirmed a lock all I have to do now is wait for first reason to panic - anything to and a berth. Consulting the tide the big day to arrive. The vessel do with a bank holiday in the UK tables made sure we would float is due to dock on Sunday 6 May. usually means gale force winds and in the channel and at what time we We receive a daily 5-day forecast inclement weather, but it is May, so could enter Langton Lock. Checking for the port and I eagerly await the maybe I will be lucky, I hope so. the dock charts ensured we could forecast for Wednesday 2 May whilst Then we start the 'quiz'. Rather than reach our allocated berth and that also keeping an eye on the BBC give me the facts, we play a guessing the depth of water in the dock weather website. The forecast wind game: - was sufficient. on the day: - W'ly 7 - 10 knots. Well that's not too bad, better than the 'You won't have to worry about a 9m Zeeleeuw was to visit Liverpool usual bank holiday gales. The BBC climb or using a combination ladder.' for some 'R & R' after spending announces a high pressure will be I can hear the chuckles on the other time at sea. I guess this is even over the UK with high temperatures. end of the phone. It's not very big more important for the crew of a I have high hopes. The updated then, or is it too big for a ladder? submarine, who for obvious reasons forecast gets even better: we are 'You might get your feet wet.' Now cannot really relax on board or go for now looking at S'ly 4 knots, clear I'm curious. Anything to do with a stroll out on deck! The term 'rest blue skies and warm sunshine, 24°c. getting wet, apart from being out and relaxation' is probably the wrong in the rain, isn't top of my list of one to use, as I am sure, like any There are some further priorities at work.