Most passengers see a cruise ship glide neatly into port and never think about the person who may have physically climbed onboard from a much smaller boat to help make that happen.
When I took a behind-the-scenes tour of the Norwegian Epic, our guide showed us a door most people don’t see.
Cruise ships have lots of hidden working areas that passengers never get to see, but one of the most interesting things I saw was the door and ladder used by the pilot.
Norwegian Epic is a huge cruise ship. She is 1,081 feet (329 meters) in length and 133 feet (40 meters) in width.
She has 15 passenger decks and has a capacity of up to 4,100 guests (at double occupancy) and 1,724 crew members.
The pilot access point looked reasonably small and practical.
It was a great reminder that cruise ships are not just floating hotels; they are busy working ships.
This tiny-looking access point has a very important job to do.
This is the door/access point used for the pilot to climb onboard the ship.
It is never used as a passenger entrance. It is part of the ship’s working operation.
From the outside, passengers probably would never notice this door at all. Seeing it up close made it easy to imagine how the whole procedure works.
The pilot often comes out to the cruise ship on a smaller pilot boat.
The ship needs to provide a safe boarding arrangement, which often includes using a “pilot ladder”. The pilot climbs from the smaller boat onto the cruise ship.
This often happens while both vessels are moving, so it is a skilled and safety-critical process.
Bad weather, swell, darkness, or the ship’s size can make boarding harder.
What is a maritime pilot?
A maritime pilot is a local navigation expert who comes onboard to help guide a ship safely into or out of a port, harbour, river, narrow channel, or other tricky area.
The pilot is usually employed or authorised locally.
They know the local waters in detail.
They understand the tides, currents, depths, traffic, port rules and local hazards.
They may also help with communication between the ship, the port, the shore team and tugboats.
The IMO says pilots with local knowledge have been used for centuries to guide ships safely into or out of ports and hazardous waters.
The captain always has ultimate authority and responsibility for the ship and everyone on board.
But when navigating through confined waters, ports, or canals, a local pilot boards the ship to direct the vessel’s movement, acting as an expert advisor to the captain
Why does a cruise ship need a pilot?
Cruise ship captains and bridge teams are highly trained, but local knowledge still matters.
Ports can be narrow, busy, shallow, tidal, or awkward. A pilot will know the specific local conditions in a way that a cruise ship captain never could.
The captain and crew know the ship – the pilot knows the port.
It is a bit like the captain can “drive” the ship, but the pilot knows the local roads, corners, currents and awkward junctions!
Pilots can also help coordinate with tugboats and shore services, especially in local languages or port-specific procedures.
Ships of all sizes need pilots. The smaller the ship, the more likely you are to see them coming alongside.
Does the pilot take over from the captain?
The pilot advises and assists with navigation.
The captain/master still has overall responsibility for the safety of the ship at all times.
The captain, bridge officers and pilot work together.
The bridge team will continue to monitor the ship’s position and movement.
IMO (International Maritime Organisation) guidance states that the master, bridge officers, and pilot share responsibility for good communication and for understanding each other’s roles during pilotage.
The pilot becomes a very important part of the bridge team, but the captain does not just stop being responsible for the ship.
How does the pilot actually board the ship?
- The cruise ship approaches the pilot boarding area.
- A small pilot boat comes out to meet the ship.
- The cruise ship prepares the pilot boarding arrangement.
- The pilot transfers from the pilot boat to the cruise ship.
- The pilot then goes to the bridge to work with the captain and officers.
- After the ship is safely in or out of port, the pilot leaves the ship, often by pilot boat again.
The IMO says one of the usual problems pilots face is simply getting onboard, especially in bad weather or when the ship is very large.
Pilot transfer arrangements are covered by SOLAS regulation V/23. This regulation establishes the international safety standards for pilot transfer arrangements.
It states that all ships on voyages where pilots may be employed must provide safe and efficient means for pilots to embark and disembark.
Why the ladder matters
They don’t use just “a random rope ladder”.
Because Pilot ladders and transfer arrangements are subject to safety requirements, they have to meet certain regulations.
Ships that may use pilots must have proper pilot transfer arrangements in place.
SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) regulation V/23 covers pilot transfer arrangements, including access to the ship’s deck and shipside doors.
The safety of these arrangements is important because pilot transfer can be high-risk if ladders are badly rigged, damaged, or non-compliant.
Our Norwegian Epic Tour
Norwegian Epic is already an unusual and controversial ship in many ways.
This is the only ship of her kind; orders for similar ships were cancelled by Norwegian, whilst Epic was still being built in the shipyard.
On a behind-the-scenes tour, people might expect to be interested in the galley, store rooms, theatre, laundry or crew areas – and we did visit all of those areas.
The pilot door and ladder stood out because they showed a side of cruising passengers rarely think about.
I first sailed on Norwegian Epic back in 2015 when we took a family Christmas cruise on her.
It was a great cruise – and even Santa arrived onboard by pilot boat, through the pilot door!
Before You Go
Find out more about cruise ship behind-the-scenes tours here:
Cruise Ship Tours That Take You To Areas Most Passengers Never See
Are you worried about your cruise ship being taken over by pirates? There is probably no need to! Here’s why:
Cruise Ship Blackouts: Why You Probably Don’t Need To Worry
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