Page 16 - Navigator 2021
P. 16

                 ‘You must want to innovate’
“From our position at sea, we constant- ly think along with the Pilot Steenbank pilot ashore,” says John Stroo. Since 2008, Stroo has been one of the captains of the large pilot vessel which is
present 24/7 at the Steenbank pilot station off the coast of Zeeland. “For example, by proposing that a small vessel in need of pilotage follows us a few miles into our operational area, so that we can immediately deploy a pilot who has just finished an outbound trip to this inbound ship. In this way, it is not necessary to dispatch a separate pilot out to sea for this. We communicate these kind of situations with the Pilot Steenbank, who discusses them with the pilotage coordinators. It’s truly a team effort.”
MAJOR CHANGE
The introduction of the Pilot Steenbank concept eight years ago constituted a major change for the captain and the crew of the pilot vessel. “We used to do all the plan- ning, coordination and communication about piloting with the ships ourselves from the pilot vessel. The fact that a substantial part of this was moved ashore took quite some time getting used to.” Now, Stroo is happy with the chan- ge. “You must want to innovate. I work together with the Pilot Steenbank pilot very well. I use my experience to al- ways provide input for his planning, the positioning of the pilot vessel in relation to shipping traffic and the SWATH vessel, etc. It is always up to yourself. A positive approach generates a positive response. We still do the coordination and communication for pilotage with the launch from the pilot vessel.”
COLLABORATION CRUCIAL
Stroo definitely sees the advantages of the Pilot Steenbank concept. “For example, we are now able to differentiate between the ships that require pilotage. The larger ships are piloted on the outside in deeper waters of the pilot station with the SWATH vessel, while we focus more on serving the smaller ships more inward using the launch. Through smart planning, more ships can be handled within the same timeframe in a safer manner. Good cooperation between me as captain and the PS pilot is crucial for
this.”
 JOHN STROO
16 NAVIGATOR NL 2021 N°21
 ‘From shore, I ensure the safe and smooth pilotage of all ships that present themselves at the Steenbank pilot station’
before the Steenbank pilot station. At that time - with about half an hour of sailing time remaining - my plan for that specific ship is ready, factoring in all the other inbound and outbound shipping traffic as well. We then also work on VHF channel 79 for the Pilot Steenbank. Both our pilot vessel and I operate on this channel. In this way, everyone always knows what is going on. Furthermore, the captain of our pilot vessel and I constantly coordinate with each other via an internal channel. Depending on, among other things, traffic density and the lee course, I will tell the ship that requires pilotage the position to which it needs to proceed. If necessary, I also give a sequence, so that the ship can maintain a safe distance from preceding vessels.”
MUTUAL DIVISION OF TASKS
For ships that are piloted with a SWATH vessel, the PS pilot coordinates the process until the pilot is actually safely on board. If pilotage takes place using the launch, the captain of the pilot vessel coordinates the last part. “I will hand over those ships to him at a certain point for boarding instructions.”
SHORT LINES
The coordination of pilotage from shore works very well, says Van Oosten. “As a PS pilot, you always have the current radar image. First and foremost, short lines of communication with traffic control, our pilotage coordinators and the captain of the pilot vessel are important here. It is particularly ideal that I sit right next to the traffic controller of the Traffic Centre Steenbank. Supplementary to the VHF channel, we can discuss many things with each other. This ship fifteen minutes earlier, that ship fifteen minutes later... it is often the little things that make the difference.”
    


















































































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