Serious incidents during pilotage are continuing, and one of the main contributing factors is a lack of good communication between the pilot and the vessel bridge team.

The relationship between the vessel bridge team and the pilot can be complex, especially in high-pressure situations. Authority issues and disagreements between the pilot and the vessel bridge team can create confusion and lead to poor decisions.

It is important to remember that the master still holds the ultimate authority and is legally responsible for the ship, including the actions taken by the pilot.

Master pilot information exchange

Discussing the passage and the planned manoeuvre with the pilot is essential. This will give the master an opportunity to give his inputs well ahead of the planned manoeuvres.

The pilot shall have a completed pilot card describing the vessel’s condition, propulsion, and manoeuvring characteristics. The pilot card should always be voyage-specific, not generic.

The pilot might not be familiar with all the vessel’s manoeuvring characteristics. Therefore, it is crucial to communicate any information not explicitly stated on the pilot card, such as how the vessel responds to specific orders under certain conditions, so the pilot is aware and can adjust the plan if necessary.

During passage

It is imperative that the vessel’s bridge team monitors every action taken by the pilot. The bridge team should never be reluctant to speak up. Overreliance on the pilot can be dangerous; if the bridge team assumes that the pilot has complete control and becomes disengaged, they may overlook critical errors. The bridge team must remain vigilant and monitor the passage and manoeuvres. Not remaining vigilant creates a potential single-point failure.

Rather than challenging the pilot, the P.A.C.E. model is often a better system. 

P – Probe (Seeking clarification, non-confrontational) 

• “Mr Pilot, I notice that we are slightly off our planned track. Is this intentional?” 

A – Alert (Pointing out a potential issue) 

• “Mr Pilot, our track shows we are veering 10 degrees off course, and we’re moving closer to the shallows.” 

C – Challenge (Firmly requesting corrective action) 

• “Mr Pilot, we are too close to the shallows, and I strongly recommend correcting our course now.” 

E – Emergency (Taking action if the pilot does not respond or correct the issue) 

• “Mr Pilot, I am taking control. Helmsman, hard to port! We need to avoid grounding.” 

Not going straight to a challenge mode fosters a better relationship, as a challenge can be more of a confrontation and cause friction between the bridge team and the pilot.

Continuous communication during transit is essential to ensure everyone remains on the same page. The bridge team should request explanations from the pilot regarding their actions throughout the passage. This will allow the bridge team to assess these actions in a timely manner and determine whether they are appropriate.

Summary

Ultimately, the relationship between the pilot and the vessel’s bridge team comes down to teamwork and communication. Careful planning and clear communication can ensure the safest possible voyage. Pilots do sometimes make mistakes, and the bridge team must do everything in its power to alert the pilot of any potential issues or misunderstandings and resolve the issues before it is too late.

Never Assume – Anyone can make a mistake!

If in Doubt – ASK!

Risk has No Memory – Remain Vigilant!