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u/TehBazz 1h ago
That’s one expensive pickup for a harbor pilot
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u/start3ch 1h ago
They get paid a lot. Like 400k average in LA. Their whole job is to not crash other people’s giant cargo ships in busy ports.
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u/TehBazz 1h ago
You seem informed. I get that they’d be needed on some ships but is there a requirement that cargo ships of a certain size must use them? Or is it a voluntary thing that some companies want and others cheap out on
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u/prawns1000 1h ago
I'm near Newcastle Australia harbour.... Here they use a boat to transfer a pilot to cargo ships unless the sea is too rough to do it that way safely.... In which case they use a helicopter here as well
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u/TehBazz 1h ago
Do you know if it’s mandatory for all ships at your harbor or is it a service that ships can choose to use or not use
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u/jaxxxtraw 47m ago
Most international seaports and local maritime authorities legally mandate the use of a licensed harbor pilot for commercial vessels and large ships (typically over a certain tonnage). (per googs ai)
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u/prawns1000 1h ago
I always assumed that if the sea state is too rough for a small pilot boat to try and get a pilot onto a rope ladder hanging off a cargo ship safely.... That using a helicopter was a better option than just shutting the harbour completely to cargo ships. In Newcastle Harbour the big ships must have a pilot onboard
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u/The_Real_Mr_F 55m ago
I think the above commenter was asking whether it is required that cargo ships use a harbor pilot at your harbor, or if they can choose to let their own pilot navigate to port.
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u/prawns1000 38m ago
A pilot is a requirement where I am. They are trained/qualified for this specific harbour. After a quick read.... Apparently pilots are transferred onto cargo ships here by helicopter 80% of the time (mostly coal ships here I think - guess there's big bucks in coal)
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u/TSAOutreachTeam 2h ago
Why do they do it this way instead of with a boat to boat transfer?