Pilotage in Cork

Ce he sin

As I understand it ships longer than I think 130m are required to be piloted between roughly Roches Point and Cobh.

I went to and from France with Brittany Ferries a couple of months ago and on neither trip was a pilot used. I thought I had just missed seeing the pilot boat on the way out, but on the way back both boats could be seen tied up in Cobh.

Has there been some change in regulations?

10-10-20

I was on the BF out of Cork in July and saw a pilot in both cases, even though the sea was like glass and we could see dolphin pods for kilometers. When did you travel?

HeidiHeidi

Ferries don't usually take on pilots. Certainly the case in Dublin Bay/Port anyhow.

Ce he sin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119964428#Comment_119964428

Mid September. I actually took a picture of the two pilot boats just to be sure!

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119964453#Comment_119964453

I'm sure they were even using the locally built Safehaven pilot as I was pointing it out at the time.

AndyBoBandy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119964453#Comment_119964453

I thought they did when the wind was above a certain point?

Ce he sin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119964453#Comment_119964453

They do in Cork! I’ve often been on BF boats and they’ve always been piloted.

HeidiHeidi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119964466#Comment_119964466

I couldn't swear to it 100% but I don't think so. Ferries that are in and out regularly do their own pilotage.

I've seen them coming and going in mental winds, and pilot boats only go out to commercial shipping.

Del2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119964488#Comment_119964488

I'd say it's down to the captain having a pilots licence for the port. I was watching a TV show about ferries and the captain was just finishing his training for a port so he could take the ship in and out on his own.

Pilots are used for captains that don't regularly use a port, if a captain is regularly using a port they'd know it and the ship better than a pilot.

Tabnabs

This /\/\/\/\/\/\

Although it's called a pilot exemption rather than a pilots licence (don't want to be giving the captain any ideas!)

Plus also sometimes a pilot may be mandatory if certain types of dangerous cargoes are carried aboard.

yiddo59

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058274807/pilotage-in-cork

I travelled on Armorique in September and didnt see any pilot boat in attendance. In August 2021 on a trip on Pont Aven there definitely was a pilot on board in Cork harbour. So this would seem to tie in with what has been posted above about the local knowledge/experience of the captain.

DOCARCH

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119966670#Comment_119966670

Definitely that. My dad was a captain and (after a number of written and practical tests) had pilot exemption for Dublin Port and for Liverpool Port.