Pilots – Professional Mariner

09 Apr

Gladding-Hearn delivers refitted launch to Boston Pilots

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsPilots, shipbuilding

(SOMERSET, Mass.) — Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corp., has delivered the first of the Boston Pilots’ two Chesapeake-class pilot boats undergoing a comprehensive refit. “The vessels are well used and well maintained. Only minor structural repairs were necessary so definitely worthy of refitting,” said Peter Duclos, the shipyard’s co-president. Along with installing new shafts and Brunton propellers, the 53-foot all-aluminum pilot…

11 Mar

Grant equity, icebreakers top Great Lakes ports agenda

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsGreat Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System, Pilots, Ports, shipping

(WASHINGTON) — At its winter meeting in Washington, D.C., last week, the American Great Lakes Ports Association (AGLPA) adopted the following policy agenda for 2024. AGLPA works to promote public policies that enhanced maritime commerce on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway System. Distribute of port infrastructure grants equitably The Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) is the primary source…

09 Feb

U.S. Great Lakes pilotage costs to rise 7 percent

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsGreat Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System, Pilots, Ports, shipping

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Coast Guard published a final rule Friday in the Federal Register outlining U.S. Great Lakes pilotage rates for the 2024 shipping season. The new rates seek to generate revenue for each of the three U.S. Great Lakes pilot associations by implementing hourly charges for pilotage services according to geographic area. Pilotage rates are paid by vessel…

28 Dec

Alabama pilots receive second Gladding-Hearn launch

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsPilots, shipbuilding

(SOMERSET, Mass.) — The Alabama Pilot Inc. has taken delivery of its second Chesapeake-class high-speed pilot boat, Mobile Pilot, from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corp. Delivery of the pilots' first Chesapeake launch, Dixey, was in 2017. With a length overall of 53.6 feet, a beam of 17.8 feet, and a draft of 4.6 feet, the new all-aluminum pilot boat features the…

10 Nov

San Francisco Bar Pilot cites retaliation for job dismissal

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsPilots

(SAN FRANCISCO) – A mariner has filed a lawsuit against the San Francisco Bar Pilots and the San Francisco Bar Pilots Benevolent and Protective Association, claiming that his job was wrongfully terminated in retaliation for questioning the organization's financial practices and safety issues, the Northern California Record reported. Plaintiff Ronald Greger filed the lawsuit in San Francisco County Superior Court.…

08 Nov

Gladding-Hearn delivers launch for Bermuda port duty

Professional MarinerMaritime NewsPilots, shipbuilding

(SOMERSET, Mass.) — Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corp., has delivered a Chesapeake-class pilot boat, certified to Lloyd’s Register class, to the Bermuda Government, Department of Marine and Port Services. It follows delivery of a 61-foot pilot/rescue vessel to the port services in 2011. The new all-aluminum launch, St. George, replaces a 10-knot steel pilot boat built by the Massachusetts-based shipyard in…

01 Nov

Long Beach, NOAA, pilots tout new port navigation tool

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsNavigation, Pilots, Ports, Tugboats and towing

(LONG BEACH, Calif.) — Imagine driving your car down a narrow road that you cannot see and your tires cannot touch. The road is made of silt and your car is hovering more than seven stories above it. This would be akin to the daily job of port pilots responsible for the safe arrivals and departures of massive cargo vessels…

13 Oct

Snow delivers launch to San Francisco Bar Pilots

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsPilots, shipbuilding

(SAN FRANCISCO) — The San Francisco Bar Pilots celebrated the arrival and deployment of pilot boat Golden Gate on Thursday with bar pilots and staff, elected officials, and the many partners involved in the vessel’s design and construction. Golden Gate, which replaces a vessel under the same name at the end of its lifespan, was built by Snow and Company…

28 Aug

New Great Lakes pilotage rule would boost costs 5 percent

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsGreat Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System, Pilots, Ports, shipping

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Coast Guard has announced in the Federal Register the proposed establishment of new Great Lakes pilotage rates for the 2024 shipping season. In accordance with the statutory provisions enacted by the Great Lakes Pilotage Act of 1960, the Coast Guard is proposing new pilotage rates for the 2024 shipping season. The Coast Guard estimates that this…

25 Jul

Pilots, NOAA sign pact to enhance navigation safety

Rich MillerMaritime NewsNavigation, Pilots, safety

(WASHINGTON) — Senior leaders of the American Pilots’ Association (APA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of Coast Survey, have signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) that calls for the two parties to cooperate and share information so that they can better carryout their respective roles and responsibilities related to safe maritime navigation…