Listen to the "old man", he knows his ship.
As train to become Pilot you learn about the location of the buoys, the depths of the channels, the effect of the currents and tides, the available resources: you become an expert in ship handling and are the most apt source when it comes to "local knowledge".
You also understand plenty about maneuvering different type of ships. Just by looking at the draft, size, and particulars of the ship you are capable to foretell its behaviour. In this regard you are also an expert.
But is this all that you need to bring the ship safely to its destination? What is the role of the ship's Captains? Is he a figure not to be taken into account when we pilots take important decisions?
I am willing to bet that, as pilots, very often we overlook the value of the Master/Pilot exchange information. Sure I won't lose if I bet that more often than not pilots just stamp their name and signature on the ship's information card without taking a close look at what is in it.
Less they pay full attention to what the Captain has to say, or they just vaguely listen to him. I mean what is it in the ship's particulars, or what the Captain can tell us that we DON'T know? Right?
What might cause that pilots seem to take for granted important pieces of information provided by the Captain is, in part, a consequence of today's shipping time pressure.
Most ships operate on tight schedules in which time has always been a luxury they cannot afford to waste. Pilots understand this fact. It is also important for them.
However that same fact cannot be used as an acceptable excuse for minimizing pilot's responsibility in case of a mishap. The " we had to get going" answer before an investigation board would only add to the pilot's fault.
Once, while taking control of a passenger vessel through the Panama Canal the Captain warned me to be careful when making turns. "She tilts a lot" he said. "I recommend you to turn her using the rate of turn indicator instead of just the rudder. Not more than 10", he added.
At the time I had conned several passenger vessels with overall similar characteristics than this particular one. Out of politeness, I nodded without giving special attention to his warning. The first two bends we did fine, I did not used the "rate of turn", but the rudder, as I have been taught. The change in the course for the turns were under 20 degrees, not a significant ones.
The upcoming turn entailed an alteration in course of nearly 60 degrees. There was opposite traffic so I decided to go deep in the bend. When I had reached my optimal point for turning I asked for a "port 20." The Captain who was closely watching all my moves jumped off his chair and landed right next to me. We both witnessed how the ship began to make the turn smoothly. Me, completely relaxed, him, not quite.
Now it was time to stop the swing and steady her up in the next course. I went "midships", and, as the indicator reached the middle, "starboard 10". The "swing" did not slow down. I looked at the rate of turn and it was displaying 15 dpm. I said "port 20", and the swing slowed down, then changed its direction. The ship developed a sudden list to port, I can't recall how big, but it was big enough to make all the nice trays full with well elaborated dishes fall on to the bridge deck. The ship reamained tilted for almost a minute ( that felt as an eternity) and then listed to the other side in a slightly smaller angle, which made what was left on the tables reach the floor.
What happened in the bridge also happened down below in every corner of the ship. You can imagine how the situation was in the restaurants, for example. And all this could have been avoided had I paid attention to the ship's Captain. Luckily no one was injured, though some passengers panic, and there were no major consequences for the ship. Except, perhaps, that some of the passengers decided never to return on that cruise.
It might look as if I am exaggerating, but the point is that even though pilots have the expertise to handle ships in their specific waterways, Captains know better the ships they command. Or at least that is what is expected.
I particularly ( especially now after that incident) pay attention to what "the old man has to say". The Master/Pilot exchange is not only to fulfill a protocol, it is a valuable opportunity to gather very important information. Information that could avoid disaster. To bring a ship safely to its destination we Pilots also have to listen to the "old man". Always
oh! So right, so right. But it happens also to find captains who does not know their vessel. or "don't" feel it as you said in another post.
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