MARITIME ENGLISH

LESSON FIVE

PILOT REQUEST

Silvio Maia-Professor of Maritime English

CIABA-Belém-PA,Brazil
A pilot is a mariner who guides ships through dangerous or congested waters, such
as harbours or river mouths. Legally the master remains in command of the ship.
The pilot is a senior adviser only. It is one of the oldest, least known professions
and yet one of the most important in terms of maritime safety. The economic and
environmental risk from today's large cargo ships makes the role of the pilot
essential.
Their size and mass makes large ships very difficult to manoeuver; the stopping
distance of a supertanker is typically measured in miles (kilometres) and even a slight
error in judgment can cause millions of dollars in damage. For this reason, many
years of experience in an operating area are required to qualify as a pilot.
By far the most challenging part of any ship's voyage is the passage through the
narrow waterways that lead to port and the final docking of the ship. The pilot brings
to the ship expertise in handling large vessels in confined waterways and expert local
knowledge of the port. In addition to bringing local maritime expertise on board, the
pilot also relieves the captain from the economic pressures that can compromise
safety. Instead of being part of the ship's crew, pilots are employed locally and
therefore act on behalf of the public rather than of the shipowners.
Normally the pilot joins an incoming ship at sea via helicopter or pilot boat and
climbs a swaying Jacob’s ladder sometimes up 40 feet (~12 metres) to the deck of the
largest container and tanker ships. With outgoing vessels, a pilot boat returns the
pilot to land after the ship has successfully negotiated coastal waters.
Pilots specifically use pilotage techniques relying on nearby visual reference points
and local knowledge of tides, swells, currents, depths and shoals that might not be
readily identifiable on nautical charts without first hand experience in the waters in
question.
Beyond the experience and training of regular ship's captains, pilots also receive
special, ongoing training to stay on top of their profession. Pilots are required by law
in most major sea ports of the world for large ships.
Utopia. This is Northport Port Control. What
is your ETA? Over
Northport Port
Control

Utopia

Northport Port Control. This is Utopia. My

ETA is one-three-zero-zero hours local time.
Over
Valhalla. This is Northport Port Control. Yes,
you must take pilot - pilotage compulsory.
Over
Northport Port
Control

Valhalla

Northport Port Control. This is Valhalla.

Must I take pilot? Over
Gargantua. This is Northport Port Control.
You are exempted from pilotage. Over

Northport Port
Control

Gargantua

Northport Port Control. This is Gargantua. I

do not require pilot.I am holder of Pilotage
Exemptiom Certificate No 147894. Over
Euphoria. This is Northport Port Control. Do
you require a pilot ? Over

Northport Port
Control

Euphoria

Northport Port Control. This is Euphoria.

Yes, I require pilot. Over
Al Shegaya. This is Northport Port Control.
Do you require pilot at Northport Pilot
Station? Over
Northport Port
Control

Al Shegaya

Northport Port Control. This is Al Shegaya.

Yes, I require pilot at Northport Pilot
Station. Over
Argo Pallas. This is Northport Port Control.
What is your ETA at Northport Pilot Station
in local time? Over

Northport Port
Control

Argo Pallas

Northport Port Control. This is Argo Pallas.

My ETA at Northport Pilot Station is one-
seven-three-zero hours local time. Over
 Northport Port Control. This is Golden. What is
local time? Over.

Golden

Northport Port
Control

Golden. This is Northport Port Control.

Local time is one-eight-zero-zero hours.
Over
Crazy Whale. This is Northport Port
Control. What is your present position?
Over
Northport Port
Control

Crazy Whale

Northport Port Control. This is Crazy

Whale. My present position is three-three-
zero degrees four miles from Mangrove
Point. Over
Gammon. This is Northport Port Control.
What is your distance from Northport Pilot
Station? Over
Northport Port
Control

Gammon

Northport Port Control. This is Gammon.

My distance from Northport Pilot Station is
seven nautical miles. Over
British Patience. This is Northport Pilot .
Yes, pilot boat on station. Over

Northport Pilot

British Patience

Northport Pilot . This is British Patience. Is

pilot boat on station? Over
Elizabeth. This is Northport Pilot . No, pilot boat
is not on station. Pilot boat on station at one-
six-three-zero hours local time.Over

Northport Pilot

Elizabeth

Northport Pilot . This is Elizabeth. Is pilot

boat on station? Over
Duke. This is Northport Pilot . Take pilot near
Northport lighthouse at one-three-zero-zero
hours local time. Over
Northport Pilot

Duke

Northport Pilot . This is Duke. In what

position can I take pilot? Over
Titan. This is Northport Pilot Station. Pilot
will embark at two-one-zero-zero hours
local time. Over
North Pilot

Titan

Northport Pilot Station. This is Titan. When

will pilot embark? Over
Patricus. This is Northport Pilot . Pilot boat
coming to you. Over

Northport Pilot

Patricus

Northport Pilot. This is Patricus. Understood.

Pilot boat coming to me. Over
Nunsuch. This is Northport Pilot. Pilot boat
approaching your vessel. Over

Northport Pilot

Nunsuch

Northport pilot. This is Nunsuch.

Understood. Pilot boat approaching my
vessel. Over
Global Mariner. This is Northport Pilot.
Keep pilot boat on port side. Over

North Pilot

Global Mariner

Northport Pilot. This is Global Mariner. I

will keep pilot boat on port side.Over
Julia. This is Northport Pilot boat. Keep
pilot boat on starboard side. Over

Northport Pilot boat

Julia

Northport Pilot boat. This is Julia. I will

keep pilot boat on starboard side.Over
Lavras. This is Northport Pilot boat. What is
your freeboard? Over

Northport Pilot boat

Lavras

Northport Pilot boat. This is Lavras. My

freeboard is seven metres. Over
Olivia Queen. This is Northport Pilot. Stop
in present position and wait for pilot. Over

Northport Pilot

Olivia Queen

Northport Pilot. This is Olivia Queen. I will

stop in present position and wait for pilot.
Over
Phoenix. This is Northport Pilot. Change to
VHF channel one-seven for pilot transfer.
Over
Northport Pilot

Phoenix

Northport Pilot. This is Phoenix. I will

change to VHF channel one-seven for pilot
transfer.Over
Borg. This is Northport Pilot. Stand by on
VHF channel two-three until pilot transfer
completed. Over
Northport Pilot

Borg

Northport Pilot. This is Borg. I will stand by

on VHF channel two-three until pilot
transfer completed.Over
Rose Maru. This is Northport Pilot. Pilotage at
Northport Pilot Station suspended until
November twenty-third at one-nine-zero-zero
hours local time.Over
Northport Pilot

Rose Maru

Northport Pilot . This is Rose Maru. Understood.

Pilotage at Northport Pilot Station suspended
until November twenty-third at one-nine-zero-
zero hours local time. Over
Star Vega. This is Northport Pilot . Pilotage at
Northport Pilot Station resumed. Over

Northport Pilot

Star Vega

Northport Pilot. This is Star Vega. Understood.

Pilotage at Northport Pilot Station resumed.
Over
Stargate. This is Northport Pilot Station. Pilot
cannot embark at Northport Pilot Station due
to bad weather conditions. Over
Northport Pilot

Stargate

Northport Pilot Station. This is Stargate.

Understood. Pilot cannot embark at Northport
Pilot Station due to bad weather conditions.
Over
Paradise. This is Northport Port Control. Do
you accept shore-based navigational
assistance from pilot? Over
Northport Port
Control

Paradise

Northport Port Control. This is Paradise. Yes,

I accept shore-based navigational assistance
from pilot. Over
Chevron. This is Northport Port Control. Stay
in position northeast from Rangitoto Beacon
until pilot boat approaches your vessel. Over

Northport Port
Control

Chevron

Northport Port Control. This is Chevron. I will

stay in position northeast from Rangitoto
Beacon until pilot boat approaches my
vessel.Over
Fuji. This is Northport Port Control. You may
navigate by yourself or wait for pilot
between buoy number one-three and buoy
number one-four.Over Northport Port
Control

Fuji

Northport Port Control. This is Fuji. I will

navigate by myself. Over
Harrier. This is Northport Port Control. You
may navigate by yourself or wait for pilot
between buoy number one-three and buoy
number one-four.Over Northport Port
Control

Harrier

Northport Port Control. This is Harrier. I will

wait for pilot between buoy number one-three
and buoy number one-four. Over
Berge. This is Northport Pilot. Follow pilot
boat inward where pilot will embark. Over

Northport Pilot

Berge

Northport Pilot. This is Berge. I will follow

pilot boat inward where pilot will embark.
Over
Role Plays
Utopia pergunta a estação de Northport pilot se ele tem que pegar o prático.
Northport pilot responde que a praticagem é obrigatória e que Utopia deve
pegar o prático.
Northport Pilot. This is Utopia. Must I take pilot? Over
Utopia. This is Northport Pilot. Yes, you must take pilot.Pilotage compulsory. Over
Utopia pergunta à Northport pilot em que posição ele deverá pegar o prático.
Northport pilot responde que Utopia deve pegar o pratico na posição 215 graus 2,5
milhas do farol de Northport.
Northport Pilot. This is Utopia. In what position must I take pilot? Over

Utopia. This is Northport Pilot. Take pilot in position: two-one-five degrees,

distance: two decimal five miles from Northport lighthouse. Over.
Utopia pergunta à estação de Northport pilot quando o prático embarcará. Northport
pilot responde que o prático embarcará às 4 horas da tarde hora local.
Northport Pilot Station. This is Utopia. When will pilot embark? Over.
Utopia. This is Northport Pilot Station. Pilot will embark at one-six-zero-
zero hours local time. Over.
Glossary
River mouth

Foz do rio
 Senior adviser

Conselheiro mestre, é a função do

prático.
 Stopping distance

Seguimento que um navio percorre após

ter suas máquinas paradas.
 Narrow waterways

Passagens aquáticas estreitas, como canais, por

exemplo.
 Confined waterways

Passagem de águas confinadas, por exemplo, água

represadas para servir de elevador, para o navio ir de
um nível de água a outro ou mesmo lagos que não tem
acesso ao mar.
 Incoming ship

Navio chegando, ao porto, por

exemplo.
Jacob’s Ladder

Escada do prático.
Outgoing Vessels

Navio saindo do porto ou

canal.
Coastal Waters

Águas
costeiras
Tide

Maré
Swell

Marulho
 Shoal

Banco de areia, área

rasa.
 TO TAKE PILOT
PEGAR O PRÁTICO
PILOTAGE COMPULSORY

PRATICAGEM OBRIGATÓRIA
You are exempted from pilotage
Você está isento de praticagem
• I am a holder of pilotage exemption certificate

• Eu sou possuidor de certificado de isenção de praticagem

• APPLICANTS FOR A PILOTAGE EXEMPTION CERTIFICATES

ARE TO MAKE THEMSELVES THOROUGHLY ACQUAINTED
WITH THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS:-
• Limits of Competent Harbour Authority Pilotage Area for which
application is being made.
• The application to pilotage of:-
• a)  International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.
• b)  International Association of Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) Maritime
Buoyage System A – General Principles and Rules.
• c)  Appropriate Byelaws, Regulations and Directions for navigating in
the Pilotage Area.
• d)  Communication Procedures.
• e)  Merchant Shipping (‘M’) Notices relating to pilotage.
• f)  Relevant Notices to Mariners affecting the CHA Pilotage Area.
• g)  National Occupation Standards for Marine Pilots
• h)  Port Marine Safety Code and Guide to Good Practice.
Keep pilot boat on port side

Mantenha lancha de prático por

bombordo
 Freeboard

Borda-livre
Pilot transfer completed.

Transferência do prático
completada.
Pilotage suspended

Praticagem suspensa
 Pilotage resumed
Praticagem retomada
Bad weather conditions
Condições de mau tempo
• Shore-based navigational assistance

• Auxílio a navegação com apoio de terra

Follow pilot boat inward/outward

Siga o barco do prático para dentro/fora da região portuária