Container ship verses tall ship, ooops

[j.sabourn]

As regards Pilots Des , as you know there are numeruous outback ports and apart from the harbour master he was the only pilot available if one was required. The likes of Fremantle ,Sydney , Melbourne, Adelaide etc. had a team of pilots. The usual requirement for a pilot was vessels over 1000 GRT. So the master after 3 runs into a port was issued with a Pilotage excemption and did not require, the likes of the Leeuwin did not require , in fact I took her out from Fremantle on the masters instructions. The only port I found very strict and had to have a pilot regardless was Sydney , I was in and out of there like a yo-yo but always was obliged to take a pilot. Maybe due to the large amount of passenger ship traffic maybe the port Authority thought it prudent to do so. Darwin was another port worked out without a pilot , but with a change of harbour master he insisted I take the pilotage excemption exam which meant coming up a day early on return after leave. This would have made 4 days extra pay for the owners ,so being very prudent themselves put me on a ship working out of Dampier instead. Where I had an excemption for in any case. Cheers JS.

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi John.
When I was on the NZ Union Company ships we never picked up a pilot in Sydney or port Kembla, I think all the skippers had to pass the test for the N.S.W. ports as that is where they traded, maybe it was included in th exams for Captain.
Des

[j.sabourn]

Nothing regarding in the syllabus for pilotage in a masters certificate Des. Pilotage is local knowledge only , unless a port is under naval control the pilot is there for advice only. The likes of the Panama Canal at one time was under U.S. control and master had to sign the ship over to the pilot with his own crew ,who had the last word. Most ports of the world acceded to the rule of vessels otherwise under 1000 tons gross pilotage was optional , I never took a pilot in Singapore as came into this category , would have liked one as is a very busy port , but can imagine the shipowner querying such expense .However it all depends on the port Authority they make the rules for their own port . Pilotage in Aberdeen was compulsory at one time for every vessel, not too sure about fishing vessels though, and yet after tying up all movements around the port was done without a pilot and was much more difficult. Pilotage in Lerwick in Shetland was optional but if did not take one got half the the pilotage fee which was 80 quid in my time , so used to put the 80 quid behind the bar in the nearest pub for all hands , as they were all involved in acting as rope handlers on the quay side etc. Cheers JS.
The only thing that could be classed as a pilotage question was the Admiralty system of buoyage around the UK which is based on the main stream of flood tide, and being able to know their shapes , colours , and top marks. flashing lights and their irregularities and otherwise , channel markers , spoil grounds,isolated dangers etc etc. etc. but think this came up in second mates cert. is that long ago errors and omissions accepted . Cheers JS

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi John.
Is it possible that they did a test on their first voyage to NSW ? I know no skipper ever took a pilot in any NZ ports.
Des

[j.sabourn]

They probably had excemptions the same as me Des . In theory in general after 3 in and outs could apply for an excemption for a pilot . I had quite a few for various ports but never Sydney. Yet the pilot just came aboard and sat there and pointed out the berth we were allowed. Dampier I had a pilot on my first ship coming out he was in fact the harbour master. Coming back in on the vhf reporting in on the vhf he just said your excemption number is ##### you are free to come in yourself . The written excemption was given to me after getting alongside. As regards Sydney the pilot just used to sit there and point out the berth we were allotted. If bad weather outside he got off well before reaching the Heads . JS.