We deploy pilot boats, fast launches, pilot tenders, SWATHs and a helicopter to bring pilots to ingoing ships and pick them up from outgoing ships.

Equipment

The Dutch Maritime Pilots' Organization deploys pilot boats, fast launches, pilot tenders, SWATHs and a helicopter to bring pilots to ingoing ships and pick them up from outgoing ships 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. The size of the ship and the weather conditions usually dictate what kind of pilotage equipment we will use to bring pilots to their destinations. Our prime concern is that embarkations and disembarkations are always carried out safely and smoothly.

Tenders

Tenders are very manoeuvrable. They are used for embarkation and disembarkation and for a safe and smooth transport of pilots.

Pilot vessels

The pilot vessels are deployed at their pilot stations at sea. We use fast launches or pilot tenders to bring the registered pilots to ingoing ships. We also use these types of transport to disembark pilots from outgoing ships and to bring them to the pilot vessel or to bring them ashore.

Launch

On the side of the pilot boat a launch is suspended. A davit (cranelike device) is used to lower the launch down to the water. These small boats transport the pilots to or from the vessel requiring pilotage.

SWATH

Because of their stability in the water, SWATHs can be deployed under practically all weather conditions. Embarkation of pilots can be carried out up to wave heights of 3.5 metres.

Swath Nederlands Loodswezen materieel

Helicopter

When weather conditions are so poor that neither a tender nor a launch can reach the vessel, the solution is the helicopter.

Regions