Brittany Ferry Pilot

[richardabeattie]

When the Brittany to Poole ferry leaves Cherbourg a pilot is in command. The pilot boat accompanies the ferry out of the harbour keeping within about 10 feet of the port side of the ship. Once clear of the outer breakwater, and with the ship and the boat both doing about 10 knots, the pilot transfers back to the boat.

Is this because:

1. The captain of the ferry only does the trip once per day and needs all the help he can get.
2. The captain of the ferry has made repeated attempts to qualify as a Cherbourg pilot but keeps forgetting the way out.
3. The french keep moving the breakwaters and only the pilot knows where they will be today.
4. Jumping from the ship to the boat is being worked up as a potential Olympic event.
5. The French pilots have a trade union.

Does the entry to Poole past the chain ferry and up the harbour also need a pilot?

 

[GrahamD]

I don't know about the situation in Cherbourg, and haven't actually seen this, but any of these reasons might be possible.

In Poole the ferries are certainly of a size that require a pilot. However the captains usually have the training/ qualification / knowledge of the harbour so that they are allowed to bring the ship in without a Poole Pilot on board.

Sometimes a Poole pilot will be seen bringing in a ferry; I understand that this is when new officers are learning about the harbour approaches.

 

[Giblets]

I believe the French pilotage requirements are set by the State whereas in the UK they are set by the Competent Harbour Authorities (CHA's). So the pilot is required on ships arriving and departing French ports but in the UK certain ships have a Pilot Exemption Certificate (PEC) holder on board and the need for a separate pilot is not required.

 

[dunedin]

If the "Brittany to Poole" ferry is leaving Cherbourg then perhaps needs a navigator as well as a pilot ?

 

[macd]

If the "Brittany to Poole" ferry is leaving Cherbourg then perhaps needs a navigator as well as a pilot ?

 

[<152587>]

The pilot is never never in command of the ship. The ships master accepts advice from the pilot, but the responsibility for the vessel is the Masters alone.