A New Zealand court has fined the Ports of Auckland and one of its pilot a total of NZD $432,400 for excessive speeding during thousands of pilot boat voyages in Waitemata Harbour. Ports of Auckland Limited (POAL) and the master of the pilot boat, Grant More, both admitted exposing people to risk of death or serious injury. Maritime NZ Director, Keith Manch, said POAL has … [Read more...]
Fatal Fall: Sandy Hook Pilot Dies in Boarding Accident
A Sandy Hook ship pilot has died following a fall while boarding a tanker arriving at the Port of New York and New Jersey on Wednesday. The incident follows the fatal fall of another Sandy Hook Pilot in late December 2019. According to a press statement, Sandy Hook Pilot Captain Timothy M. Murray died from injuries sustained after falling from a pilot ladder. The incident … [Read more...]
American Ship Pilots Sound Alarm on Unsafe ‘Trapdoor’ Arrangement
Example of a "trapdoor" arrangement with ladder hanging from bottom of platform. Image courtesy American Pilots' Association The American Pilots' Association has sent a letter to state pilotage authorities across the United States on behalf of approximately 1,200 American ship pilots to improve safety following the death of a New York pilot in December. The letter comes … [Read more...]
Sandy Hook Pilot Dies in Boarding Accident at Port of New York and New Jersey
A veteran Sandy Hook ship pilot has died after falling during a boarding of an inbound containership at the Port of New York and New Jersey on Monday morning. The U.S. Coast Guard said it responded with units from the New York Fire Department and New York Police Department Harbor Police after the pilot fell while boarding the U.S.-flagged Maersk Kensington at 4:30 … [Read more...]
How Does That Happen?
At a staff meeting about avoiding collisions and allisions in piloting waters with the Master and Pilot on the bridge my respected colleague responsible for training and operations had a question. How can an experienced, qualified Pilot and Master, standing side by side on the bridge, conn a ship into a collision or allision? How does that happen? It was a rhetorical … [Read more...]