Sea Tankers - Drop the Pilot

Drop the Pilot

Reproduced with the permission of Associated British Ports

Clipper Burgundy masters John Carling and Bernie Marks are working to obtain their Pilot Exemption Certificates (PEC) for navigation in the Humber estuary. When they become PEC holders John and Bernie will no longer need to employ a pilot when making trips in and out of the port – saving them time and hassle. As Immingham is our main load port, there will be significant benefits all round.

The process of becoming eligible for a PEC is fairly long-winded: “It is time consuming but I enjoy the challenge and it keeps the brain working!” says John, who hopes to have his PEC by early next year. After visiting the VTS Tower at Spurn Point to receive their tripping numbers, John and Bernie had to become familiar with radio procedures, radar operations and general river safety. They have to complete nine trips in and nine trips out of the port with an authorised pilot and make two trips on a tug accompanying a vessel too. They need to know the names, colours, positions and light characteristics of all the buoys in the river, all the courses, distances and depths on the passage from the sea to the berth and all sorts of details about danger areas and tides.

Having taken in all that information and experience, a thorough medical fitness examination and the completion of a certificate of competency will form part of the paperwork that John and Bernie need to submit when they sit their examinations. This will be followed by assessment trips under the watchful eye of an authorised examining pilot, and then more examinations before the harbour authority on all aspects of the Humber area.

With the benefits of a PEC comes added responsibility, says John: “Navigating in the Humber is not straightforward, and without a pilot the master loses the reassurance of having the extra team member on board with all his local knowledge and experience.” The rest of the team at Sea Tankers wish John and Bernie the very best of luck as they complete their studies, and look forward to the day when they can drop the pilot!