Florida Harbor Pilot Dies After Fall from Bulk Carrier

A Florida harbor pilot has died following a tragic accident while disembarking from a vessel in Panama City on January 12, 2026.

Captain Brady, 46, fell from a pilot ladder while leaving the outbound M/V Lowlands Luck, a Singapore-flagged bulk carrier. Despite immediate recovery efforts by the pilot boat operator, Captain Brady succumbed to his injuries.

A 2001 graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy from Mobile, Alabama, Captain Brady had dedicated six years to serving as a harbor pilot in Panama City. His death has sent shockwaves through the St. Andrew’s Bay pilot community and beyond.

“Captain Brady was a respected and dedicated professional mariner whose loss is felt profoundly throughout the maritime community,” the St. Andrew’s Bay Pilots stated in announcing his passing. He leaves behind a fiancée and two young children.

The incident occurred in the presence of Captain Zach Condon, Brady’s fellow Panama City pilot, and Captain Matt Meilstrup, a Pensacola pilot who was cross-training in Panama City at the time.

The circumstances surrounding the accident remain under active investigation, with authorities working to determine exactly what led to the fatal fall. Pilot ladder incidents have long been a safety concern in the maritime industry, with transfer operations between vessels and pilot boats representing one of the most dangerous moments in a harbor pilot’s routine.

The St. Andrew’s Bay Pilots have requested patience as the investigation continues and encouraged the Panama City and maritime community to focus on supporting Captain Brady’s family.

“We ask the public to keep Captain Brady’s family and loved ones in their thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time,” the organization stated.

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